Navigating Anxiety at Work
The workday certainly has its share of stressors. From meeting deadlines, to performance, interacting with colleagues, pleasing your supervisor, and more, professional life can take a toll on your mental health and increase feelings of anxiety.
For many, working is a necessary part of adult life, and while it might feel stressful at times, the following suggestions can help to alleviate some of the anxiety you might be feeling in the workplace.
Move your body throughout the workday
While you might not have a flexible schedule to pop to the gym or take a midway yoga class, there are still ways to incorporate movement into your workday! Invest in a standing desk or portable treadmill to tuck beneath your desk. Park farther away from your office to increase walking time to and from the building. Instead of lounging during your lunch time, eat while you work and then take your lunch break time to sneak in a little walk. Rather than emailing or texting a coworker, get up and walk to their office to talk with them. For those who work remotely, there tends to be a bit more flexibility in the way you schedule your time during the workday, so perhaps between projects or meetings, add in a short walk, do some jumping jacks, or put a short dance video on Youtube and shake and shimmy! Research shows us that movement can reduce anxiety, and adding in a few moments of exercise throughout your work day can be beneficial.
Eat and hydrate
Some workdays are filled with chaos, but don’t let a busy schedule prevent you from fueling your body. Studies show that low calorie intake can contribute to anxiety, and if you skip meals because of a busy work schedule, you could be harming your body and mind. Make time for lunch, squeeze in breakfast, and don’t be afraid to add some healthy snacks into your day! This will help keep your body and mind focused and ready for whatever challenges arise.
Set healthy work boundaries
Work is important, but if you do not create boundaries between your work and personal life, you will not find time to recharge and reset, leading to anxiety and burnout. Give yourself permission to be present at home when the workday has ended. Perhaps that means you do not check or respond to emails after working hours, or you leave work exactly at your contract time each day. Reflect on what boundaries you need to give yourself time and space to rest after the workday and maintain those boundaries consistently.
Ask for support
Has your workload increased significantly? Is your team struggling? Are you concerned about an upcoming project or major task? Talk with your supervisor and share these concerns. As your boss, these are things they want to know about in order to best support you as you make your contributions to your team. If you do not feel comfortable confiding in your boss, perhaps talk with a trusted coworker, a friend, or even a mental health professional. When stressors at work feel like they are taking over your life, don’t be afraid to reach out to someone.
Interested in More Support With Anxiety Therapy in Indianapolis, IN?
If you're looking to ease your everyday anxiety symptoms, seek out a skilled anxiety therapist at Indiana Counseling and Resilience Center. Together, you and a skilled professional can develop effective strategies to reduce stress and help you regain control of your life, and reduce your everyday anxiety. Remember, you deserve a peaceful and fulfilling future, and anxiety therapy can be a powerful tool to help you achieve it. Follow these three simple steps to get started:
Contact us to schedule an appointment for anxiety therapy
Begin meeting with one of our skilled anxiety therapists
Start managing your everyday anxiety symptoms in a healthy way!
Other Services Offered at Indiana Counseling and Resilience Center
At Indiana Counseling and Resilience Center, our team wants the best for our clients and we want to support you in any way we can. So, in addition to providing you with anxiety therapy to manage your anxiety symptoms, our skilled team of skilled and caring therapists specializes in trauma & PTSD counseling, couples counseling, and EMDR therapy. We offer our services both in-person and online in the state of Indiana. For more about us check out our FAQs!
