Anxiety can affect every aspect of our lives, including our employment. And if workplace anxiety isn’t properly managed, it has the potential to negatively impact our careers.
For example, if a promotion would require you to interact more with clients, give more presentations, or take more business trips—and you feel stressed at the prospect of having to take on those tasks—you may be more likely to turn down the advancement (as well as the salary increase that would accompany it). Likewise, if you have social anxiety, you may be less likely to chat with your coworkers in the break room and attend office parties, which could prevent you from building a valuable network.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to manage anxiety in the workplace. If you regularly experience anxiety while you’re at work, you may want to try:
- Keeping your desk, your computer desktop, and your email inbox organized and free of clutter
- Making prioritized to-do lists and scheduling enough time to complete each of your tasks
- Letting your coworkers know if you don’t have the bandwidth to take on additional work
- Asking for help when you begin feeling overwhelmed
- Avoiding checking work emails and voicemails after business hours
- Scheduling vacation time (even if you don’t have travel plans, a staycation can help you relax and clear your mind)
- Taking quick breaks whenever you start to feel anxious (for example, performing breathing exercises at your desk or taking a walk around the building)
- Leading a healthy lifestyle (for example, eating nutritious foods, drinking plenty of fluids, exercising, and getting enough sleep each night)
Learn More About Anxiety Management
If you’re struggling to manage your anxiety at work, at home, or in other aspects of your life, we can help. Our caring therapists have extensive experience treating anxiety, and we can provide you with advice that’s tailored to your specific circumstances. Contact us today to learn more about our practice and schedule your first therapy session.
Top 5 Ways to Reduce Anxiety
It’s rare that any of us will get through life without experiencing anxiety at some point. But some people have the burden of dealing with anxiety on a daily basis. Whether it’s over something big or insignificant, anxiety stops us from living a normal life full of...
5 Signs That You Might be Struggling with Anxiety
It’s normal to feel anxious from time to time. Perhaps you get a bit nervous speaking in front of people or going on a job interview. But for some people, anxiety becomes a frequent and forceful occurrence that completely takes over their lives. Since anxiety comes in...
Quick! Get Your "Top Tips For Getting the Most Out of Counseling" Cheatsheet!
Like some of what you've seen and want to see more? Sign up for our Mailing List for a free cheat sheet on making the most out of counseling. Our list members also gain access to exclusive specials and announcements, as well as the latest from our Counseling Blog!