Managing Anxiety at Work: 4 Helpful Tips

Do you find yourself constantly feeling on edge at work? Or are you always counting down the minutes until 5:00 pm? If so, you’re not alone. Three out of four people who are living with anxiety report that it disrupts their daily life and that their workplace is no exception.

Because dealing with anxiety in the workplace can be so difficult, Venice Sanchez, MD, and the rest of our team at her practice located in Newport Beach, California, want to give you some tips to ease some of that anxiety to help you do your absolute best at work and beyond.

1. Validate your feelings

When you’re struggling with anxious thoughts and feelings at work, it might seem like a good idea to simply ignore them and hope they go away. However, this can be counterproductive and actually make your anxiety worse. Instead, be kind to yourself and acknowledge what you’re feeling is very real.

Some studies have even suggested that by acknowledging your anxiety you can make it work to your advantage. This is because anxiety can give you a surge of adrenaline and help you be more productive. It can be helpful to pinpoint what exactly is causing you undue stress and come up with a plan to overcome it.

2. Form positive relationships with co-workers

Many workplaces can be filled with gossip and negative talk about fellow employees. But this can create a toxic work environment. Whenever possible, try to steer clear of this negativity. You may find that this does wonders for your anxiety.

In contrast to that, you may find it beneficial to form a trusting relationship with one of your co-workers. Having someone at your workplace who knows what you’re going through can be very comforting. They can be there for you if you’re having a particularly bad day, and they may have solutions to work-related things that are causing you stress.

3. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

You may find yourself starting to burn out on top of stressing out if you’re taking on too much responsibility at work. If you feel like your plate is too full, ask for help. You may also want to work on communicating how much is too much to your supervisors since they may have no idea that your workload is spreading you too thin.

In addition, don’t be afraid to set boundaries with your work life. When you can, try not to bring your work home with you. Your cell phone can make it tempting to be available 24/7, but avoid checking those emails and voicemails outside of work hours so you don’t completely deplete yourself.

4. Take breaks

Sometimes it’s wise to take a break from whatever task you’re working on to just reset and recenter yourself and your emotions. You can do this by taking a walk, doing some breathing techniques, or practicing mindfulness activities. Clearing your head may leave you feeling refreshed and ready to take on the rest of your day.

While these tips can be a good place to start, if you find that you’re still struggling to work through your anxiety, our team would love to talk with you and give you more guidance. To schedule an appointment with us, you can give us a call at 949-269-6142 or use our online booking tool today.