When Complaining Costs You More Than You Think

There is always that one person at work who complains about something. It may be a short staff situation, something about the office or even about a coworker. That person can influence coworkers to start to complain. Before you know it, you sense the dissatisfaction from all corners of the office.

Complaining may not be a bad thing – if you notice something that is not up to standards, or a situation that can be dealt with differently, it is important to complain about it. The key is to also find a solution. Complaining at work, without doing something constructive, has negative impacts on your work day.

When you complain about something, you are already experiencing some unpleasant emotions (otherwise, you probably will not complain). You may be dissatisfied with your work hours, your administration, and certain patients. Whatever it is, the more you complain, the more you find things to complain about. It is mentally draining to complain. It causes anxiety, frustration and stress.

In other words, complaining brings about unpleasant emotions. These unpleasant emotions are draining. They are not the kind of fuel you want to utilize because they are not efficient fuels. When you are experiencing these emotions, it is easy to be distracted. Instead of focusing on what you are supposed to do, you are paying attention to what is not going well. This results in decreased efficiency and productivity.

Think about how you feel when someone around you complains about something. That negative energy affects you. You start to think or question what that person is talking about. You, too, start to focus on those unpleasant thoughts. Even though you are not the one complaining, you may start to complain. Complaining with someone seems like something that can strengthen the bond between you, but in fact, it can damage relationships. It reduces the connection that teamwork needs. It easily leads to thinking about how unhappy you are at work. Your motivation decreases, and you start to forget why you are working there in the first place. The more you complain, the more there is to complain, and the more you feel the negative effects of complaining.

Stop complaining is not a realistic option. It is normal to express your dissatisfaction about something. The important thing is not to dwell in the complaining phase. When you are complaining, acknowledge it. Examine what you are not happy about. Is that something you can control or not? Control what we can. Whatever we cannot control, see what you can do about it.

What is another way to think of the situation or the person you are complaining about? If you have some negative opinions about the situation, what are some positive aspects of it? Shift your focus on the positives – the more you seek, the more you find them.

What are some possible solutions? For whatever you are complaining about, how would you want it differently? What are some ways to get to what you want? It is always helpful to talk to someone, to ask their opinions, and to find solutions.

Complaining can be a start of making something better. If you are satisfied with something, you probably will not complain about it. Chronic complainers affect the workplace by filling it with a negative atmosphere that increases anxiety, stress, frustration and other unpleasant emotions. These emotions are inefficient fuels, they are also mentally draining. Complaining affects people around you because of the energy you emit and the ideas you are sharing. While it is important to feel your feelings and acknowledge what you are complaining about, it is more important to realize what we can or cannot control. Be open to see things from a different perspective and focus on finding constructive solutions. As always, talking to someone about it is helpful, so that complaining does sabotage your efficiency and well-being.