10/03/2026
I’ll see you guys tonight at The Bucket!
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A study from University of Pennsylvania suggests that pretending to be happy at work may carry a significant emotional cost.
Researchers examined a behavior known as “surface acting,” where employees force smiles, hide frustration, or act cheerful despite feeling stressed or emotionally drained. The study found that this kind of emotional suppression was associated with a higher likelihood of binge drinking after work, largely due to emotional exhaustion.
According to the researchers, constantly managing a version of yourself that does not reflect how you genuinely feel can consume a large amount of mental energy throughout the day. Once work ends, some people may turn to alcohol, overeating, or other coping habits as a way to release accumulated stress and emotional tension.
The findings do not suggest that people should behave rudely or express every emotion without restraint in professional settings. Instead, they highlight the importance of emotional authenticity, healthy stress management, and environments where employees feel comfortable acknowledging pressure rather than constantly pretending everything is fine.
Over time, continuously suppressing emotions may affect both mental wellbeing and overall health more than many people realize.
