Is the Stress of Your Job Worth It?

It’s been another long day. Your eyes are bleary, and your thoughts are arriving slowly and half formed, as if they themselves have jetlag. And you know tomorrow is going to be the same. You lean back, rub your eyes, and can’t help but ask yourself:

“Is all this work stress worth it?”

The next thing you might do is stoically dismiss the question as rhetorical — but not so fast. Let’s really dig in; that thought didn’t occur unbidden.

In fact, looking at it can give you remarkable clarity on your professional ambitions and goals. So let’s dive in. Here’s a quick guide to help you figure out if all the stress you’re experiencing at work is truly worth it.

The stress side of the equation

This question has two factors that each need to be looked at independently — stressors and sources of value. And, since any proper examination begins with an interrogation of the challenges, let’s start by looking at some causes of work stress so we know what we’re dealing with.

Stressor 1: The nature of your work

This category is all about the actual day-to-day tasks you take on. After all, you go to work to, well, work. And stressors within this can take a few forms:

Excessive workload

You are assigned (or take on of your own accord) too many assignments. This can lead to stress — not because you’re not fulfilling the expectations of your role, but because you’re failing to accomplish the excess responsibilities that go beyond what would be typically expected of someone in your role.

Feeling unequal to the tasks assigned

Whether for legitimate reasons or not, you’re not sure you have the skills you need to tackle the responsibilities that are coming your way. This can erode your sense of agency and control over your work, which is a prime cause of stress.

Stressor 2: The people

But maybe all that’s fine. And yet, you’re still feeling stressed at work. It might be worth taking a look at the people who you collaborate with day-in and day-out. Work stress from your coworkers can result from:

Toxicity

Overt signs of toxicity_{Worker, Beware: How to Spot the Signs of a Toxic Workplace} are easy enough to spot — your boss clearly playing favorites, your coworkers harassing you, people spreading rumors. But equally as stressful are work environments in which the toxicity is latently expressed through lack of accountability or withheld recognition, for example. Whether obvious or not, toxicity tarnishes a worker’s sense of safety in their role, leading to stress.

Lack of teamwork

Everyone has good days and bad days — your coworkers included — so a healthy dose of empathy is usually quite helpful. But when things get too far and coworkers regularly avoid responsibilities or fail to deliver on their promises, you can feel unsupported, which can cause stress.

Stressor 3: The organization

Let’s zoom all the way out, though. Stress is often the result of forces that don’t come down to the individual or the community — stress can be a symptom of the company’s fundamentals. Stress here can look arise from:

Lack of leadership

Leaders at every level of an institution need to provide vision, feedback, and support. If you’re unsure about what comes next for the company or how you fit into the plan (if there is one), you’re going to wonder about your position at the company in general. That’s a recipe for stress.

Institutional chaos

This is the sign of a dysfunctional workplace. And, to be fair, when people come together, there’ll always be a bit of chaos. But we’re talking about something deeper — when the core reality of an organization is permanently in question. In that case, there’s very little consistency to hold onto, so you have to practice a mild form of hypervigilance. This always-watching mental state causes you to release cortisol, the stress hormone.

Why it can be worth it

Okay. We have the rough part of the equation done with. Breathe in, breathe out. We hope we haven’t triggered too many unpleasant emotions or memories. Now, let’s keep moving — it’s time to dive into the values that can make work worth it.

Growth

So you’re taking on extra tasks or even responsibilities beyond what you’re used to doing (or were hired to do). This can be a magnificent catalyst for growth, which allows you to put all of the wear-and-tear of work in the context of what comes next — an advancement in your career that will result from the expertise you’re acquiring. 

And the journey of mastery can be deeply satisfying. Where you once struggled, you may soon find yourself excelling. Where tasks used to overwhelm you, you may find yourself handling them without problem. This is a prime source of work satisfaction, and if you find yourself at the start of a story of growth, you can remind yourself of the value you’ll experience on the other side.

Passion

This is the buoy by which many professional artists keep their spirits up. Many artists endure bad pay and bad work condition_{How Artists Can Unlock Financial Freedoms} because, ultimately, they’re getting the chance to do what they want. Doing what you love can make up for a lot. Not everything, mind you, but a lot.

You don’t necessarily have to be doing the precise work that sets a fire in your soul, either. This also takes the form of working at a company whose goals precisely align with yours or that’s doing something you find enthralling. Maybe you’re driven to combat environmental degradation and you’re working at a climate tech startup. Or maybe you’re an avid gamer and you’re at an up-and-coming indie studio. If you take a larger view, you might find good reason for why you’re persevering through the stress.

Compensation and benefits

This has been staring us in the face this whole time, and we’re finally going to talk about it. At the most obvious level: people work for money. And the feeling of financial security when that paycheck hits your account can cover a lot of bases. You can save up for a big vacation. You can treat a loved one of yours to a small gift. But just at a basic level: being able to handle rent and the necessities is a significant plus.

And on top of that, the benefits that come with employment provide for other senses of security. Many people get insurance through their employer, and this provides a safety net for workers. In addition, companies also often offer retirement plans to help people put away money so they’ll have something to rely on later in life. It’s hard to overstate how impactful these two benefits can be.

Balancing the two

So you’ve got stressors. You’ve got reasons why work can be worth it nonetheless. Now it’s up to you to weigh them against each other. Are you reading this article because of a difficult week? Or is the stress chronic? Is the work truly too much or are you challenging yourself to build to something greater?

We can’t answer those questions for you, but we can add one last bit of information to help you in that process. See, according to research, some stress can actually be beneficial.

Think of a new, quick project that asks you to meet higher expectations that are stretches but not beyond your abilities. By handling these challenges, you can actually build resilience, decrease the likelihood of developing depression, and develop coping skills that will be crucial down the line.

However…

… and this is a decently-sized “however” (even in the font we chose): you might not come down on the side of “My stress is actually good stress, and you know what, it’s all good. I’m fine now.” In fact, you might have a diametrically opposed realization.

If so, that’s completely valid. And we want you to know that you’re not stuck here. We have advice on what to do to handle a bad job_{Why You Hate Your Job and What to Do About It}. If switching your career is unrealistic, we encourage you to check out that article. But if you can make a transition, we encourage you to explore options for fueling a new career that’s more aligned with what you want from your professional life.

First things first: find what career fits you by taking this five-minute quiz. You’ll be on your way to the job you really want in no time.