If you have ever experienced anxiety in the workplace, you are not alone. According to a recent survey by entrepreneurship platform ZenBusiness, close to 50 percent of workers say they feel anxious because of their jobs. Should you be one of those people who feel their work is making them more anxious, here are 3 ways to handle the stress.
Don’t be afraid to talk about it: Only 28% of employees feel moderately or extremely comfortable telling their boss about their workplace anxiety, and roughly 40% feel the same about discussing it with a coworker. Ironically, these people could be great resources and can work to help calm your anxiety. Find someone you can trust and discuss how you feel with them; they could affect changes that reduce your stress or bring insights that help decrease your anxiety.
Don’t rush through tasks: Half of the employees say workplace anxiety has a negative impact on their work performance and 68% say it makes them worse employees overall. When completing tasks, try performing them one at a time in a relaxed state of mind. Things like time blocking and daily to-do lists can keep you on track to knock out a day’s work without increasing pressure or anxiety. If surprises do come up (and it’s pretty certain that they will) calmly reassess your plan for the day to continue crossing things off your to-do list.
Be confident in your role: Full-time remote employees with tenure of 4 years or less report the highest levels of workplace anxiety overall. Just remember you were hired for a reason and take note of what you have accomplished. Celebrate every accomplishment, no matter how big or small, because you worked hard to achieve them. It’s important to take pride in your wins and allow them to serve as a reminder that you are, in fact, an important member of your team.