7 ways to overcome anxiety at work

Everyone feels anxious at work from time-to-time, but a little bit of anxiety can be useful. It can help you face challenges or perform in unfamiliar or stressful situations. However, when your anxiety becomes excessive and keeps coming back again and again, it can have a harmful effect on your life. Sustained stress at work is one of the leading causes of depression and anxiety. Therefore, the best way to combat workplace anxiety is to address its root cause: stress.  

Luckily, we have some simple things that you can do to start feeling more relaxed and less anxious at work. As part of our CVGT Employment service, we help our participants to manage and overcome challenges they may face at work.  We’ve outlined some of our top tips for overcoming anxiety in the workplace below. 

1. Stay positive and be realistic

As human beings, we are naturally prone to react negatively to stressful situations. This is often due to our primal instinct to avoid danger. The thing is, though, danger is part of every job. The only way to become successful is by facing and overcoming it. The best way to remain positive when you’re feeling stressed is to keep your expectations realistic. When you expect perfection, you set yourself up for failure. Set realistic goals that are attainable but still challenging. And above all, don’t beat yourself up if you’re not successful straight away.  

2. Breathe properly

If you’re feeling anxious about a particular task or deadline, the best way to ease your stress is to take a break. Take a short walk, go for a cup of tea, or do something else to calm yourself down. This is especially important when you are trying to overcome workplace anxiety. When you’re anxious, your breathing becomes fast and shallow. This leads to a feeling of hyperventilation and dizziness. Calm yourself down by taking slower, deeper breaths. 

3.Talk to your colleagues

You’re going to spend a lot of time at work with your colleagues. Why not make the most of it by getting to know them better? Try to start conversations with your colleagues. You never know, they might open- up to you. You could even become good friends. Taking the initiative to start conversations with your team members can make you feel more social and less awkward – reducing stress at work causing you anxiety. When you talk to your colleagues, it can also make you feel less alone. Find out how we at CVGT Employment create a positive team environment by reading our Better Together article.

4.Change your workspace

5.Take a break

There’s no doubt that you need to get some rest to keep on top of your work. However, taking a break isn’t just about resting. It’s also about diving into something else to de-stress yourself. Try reading a book, going for a walk, listening to music, watching a funny YouTube video, or drawing in a notebook. The best way to take a break from work is to dive into something else that you enjoy.  

6.Company culture is key

When you try to overcome workplace anxiety, it can be helpful to think about how you can incorporate positivity into your company’s culture. For example, you can create an organisation-wide or team-wide appreciation day to celebrate your wins in and out of work. This can help you to foster a culture of positivity and gratitude. Workplace culture is important to us at CVGT Employment, read more about the importance of positive workplace culture.

7. De-stress exercise

Exercising can be a great way to de-stress yourself. It can help you to lower your stress levels, reduce your levels of anxiety, and improve your mood. There are different types of exercises that you can choose from. Pick one that suits your interests and fitness levels – you might even want to invite a colleague along. 

We will leave you on this note to overcome anxiety at work  

Remember to keep your expectations realistic. When you expect perfection, you set yourself up for failure. Set realistic goals that are attainable but still challenging. And above all, have fun and enjoy yourself.  

Work can feel overwhelming, leading to anxiety. That’s why the CVGT Employment team assists job seekers to manage and overcome challenges they may face at work. Our people and programs value positive work experiences.

You’ve got this. And we’ve got your back. Call your local CVGT Employment consultant today on 132 848.