How To Manage Work-Related Anxiety

Anxiety is a very common mental health problem that affects millions of people. Within the broad category of anxiety are specific types of anxiety linked to many aspects of life, including family, finances, and work in Clearwater.

Since many people spend the majority of their waking hours at work, this can often become one of the main sources of anxiety. There are various reasons people might worry about their job, including anxiety about being laid off or demoted by their employer.

Whatever the reasons for having work-related anxiety, here are some of the ways you can work to manage this.

Focus on What You Can Control
You can’t control what your employer might be thinking, but you can control the way you perform at work and the choices you make. For example, remind yourself about the things you have control over and concentrate on these instead. Put more effort into performing at your best and cultivating strong relationships with others at work. There are many things that you do have some power and control over, and this can help you to manage work anxiety and worries more effectively.

Speak to People
Your place of employment may have dedicated staff or volunteers to help support others with their mental health struggles. While these people are not usually qualified professionals, they can create the opportunity to voice your concerns and speak about your worries in a non-judgemental environment. Depending on your concerns and the drivers of your work anxiety, you may choose to speak to your manager instead or somebody with authority to make concrete changes that impact your work straight away. When things get difficult, you can also speak with a professional therapist or counselor or ask your employer whether they offer any of these dedicated mental health services.

Take Up a New Hobby
Work anxiety can be triggered by too much focus on work and your job. Taking up a new hobby and shifting your focus, even if it’s only temporary, can help to relieve some of the anxiety related to work and give you something else to turn your attention to. Hobbies such as walking, meditation, and yoga can bring additional benefits and help to relieve stress in your body and mind. Shifting your thoughts to something different can reduce stress and help you to feel like your life includes more than your job.

Identify Your Triggers
There are many different triggers of work anxiety, and these can vary from one person to another. The things that cause work anxiety for you may be very different from those that trigger work anxiety in a colleague. The more you know about what triggers you, the more effectively you can plan to avoid them. While you may not be able to avoid all of your triggers all the time, you can often make changes to reduce them or react differently when they arise.

Be Realistic
Work anxiety can be driven by unrealistic expectations, either from you or the people around you. Being aware of unrealistic expectations from yourself and others can help you to recognize them when they arise, call them out when you’re not comfortable with them, and take different steps to create a more realistic and healthy approach.

Finding Help with Work Anxiety
Any type of anxiety can be difficult to live with, and work-related anxiety can have an impact on many of your day-to-day activities in Clearwater, FL. You can find professional support from Advantage Mental Health Center if you’re struggling to manage your anxiety and deal with the impacts of mental health conditions every day.

Picture Credit: Freepik