Okay, so besides the normal day-to-day hustle and immense stress of the work environment in the modern world, we have a pandemic to contend with and we don’t know for how long.
Unfortunately, dealing with anxiety has become somewhat of a normal part of work life for many individuals today. Although this problem is not necessarily a new phenomenon, there are certain aspects of modern times that have served to exacerbate the issue.
Due to our being so connected through the internet, social media and other forms of media, workers today are not only exposed to the issues in their immediate work environment. Instead, we are shown all of the bad things taking place across the entire nation. Furthermore, we are expected to juggle so many more responsibilities at one time, all while being as productive as possible.
Although anxiety certainly varies in intensity and frequency from employee to employee, there are a few ways to deal with the problem that are beneficial for anyone experiencing this issue.
This article intends to discuss a few of these techniques in order to alleviate some of your anxiety, hopefully improving your performance and overall quality of life.
Live in the Moment
Although it may seem obvious when stated, the only point in time in which you will EVER exist is right now. Ironically, most of us dedicate the bulk of our mental energy into the past or future. Anxiety is great at causing us to replay past mistakes in our head and constantly worry about things that have yet to occur.
A big part of dealing with anxiety is to live in the moment. This means focusing all of your physical and mental energy on what is going on right now. Not only does this simplify things for you, it also allows you to get the most performance out of your limited time.
Trying to deal with your entire past and future on a constant basis makes it virtually impossible to appreciate what is right in front of you.
Control What You Can Control
The truth is, many of the issues causing anxiety in your life are beyond your control. This includes global and community issues as well as problems in your personal life.
What you need to realize is that the weight of the world is NOT on your shoulders, even though it can certainly seem like it at times. Anxiety tells you that you should be worried about solving problems that are way out of your hands.
In reality, focusing on-the-job issues that you actually have the ability work on and to resolve is a much healthier response to a problem-filled situation.
It’s Okay to Not Feel Okay
Another side effect of anxiety is a feeling of isolation. People experiencing anxiety on a routine basis tend to feel like they are the only employees dealing with this issue.
Because of this perspective, we often feel like everyone else is much happier than we are, like we won’t be accepted by associates if anyone else knew the extent of our anxiety. It is so important to realize that this is far from the truth.
Everyone on your team is experiencing some degree of anxiety or mental hang up. You are far from alone. Don’t feel like you have to perform your tasks acting as if everything is okay when it isn’t.
Get Help if You Need it
Finally, if your anxiety is something you are having trouble dealing with on your own, then don’t! There is absolutely nothing wrong with reaching out to HR and even seeking professional help for this issue. Ironically, our society welcomes getting help for even minor physical ailments but acts as if doing the same for a serious mental issue is taboo.
Consider this, if you had the flu, you would most certainly seek the appropriate doctor to take care of it. Why would you not seek a doctor that is medically trained in alleviating mental health issues if you are dealing with anxiety?
There is help out there, get it if you need it!