These tips can be helpful if you work in a traditional workplace setting or even if you work from home.
Acknowledge your anxiety, stress, and frustration.
The sooner you recognize the signs and symptoms, of your stressors, the better off you may be. Ignoring your triggers will only cause your problems to increase or worsen.
Get Physical!
Engage in a new work out, hit the gym, or the nearest walking trail. I find it particularly helpful to walk the dogs or go outside and play with them. Get a gym buddy and hit the fitness center together. I have friends who enjoy hikes, running marathons, yoga, swimming, and attending dance classes. Try to tag along with them one day and engage in a new workout.
Surround yourself with positive people
Form a connection with others who are empathetic of what you’re going through. Having a coworker who understands your anxiety is always better than a coworker who increases your stress.
Delegate or Outsource
Realize that you cannot do it all. It’s important to recognize when you should start delegating to others in your personal and professional life. Being superwoman is overrated and there’s never enough time in the day to do everything on your list. Start seeing if you and a coworker can swap tasks or split some of the work to meet deadlines. Outsourcing is great for business owners because it allows you to focus on important daily operational responsibilities. Everything from copying, scanning, data entry, customer service, and website hosting or updates can be outsourced. If you work from home and need a part-time sitter or nanny to get your work completed, get a nanny. If you don’t have enough time to walk your dog each day, get a dog walker. People will judge you regardless of what you do, so if you need a maid to help keep your home tidy, get one. Sometimes the sacrifice for peace or productivity means adjusting your budget to delegate or outsource responsibilities that take up too much of your time. Think of the benefits you may receive with outsourcing, this may mean more time to plan your kids’ parties or spend more time with your mom. Delegating or outsourcing may allow you time to get your nails done or partake in a self-love routine that you keep putting off. Think of the spa day you deserve after working long hours, it’s definitely within reach.
Take Breaks
Taking a step back from your desk or working environment can do you a lot of good. It’s easy to be consumed by your work and sit at your desk for hours on end. Taking breaks is totally healthy and research shows that people who take breaks can actually be more productive.
Plan
Give yourself time to organize at the end of each working day so that you can start fresh the next day. Planning also means figuring out what you need to do before it actually happens. Flying by the seam of your pants may not get you very far in your career or personal life. Setting timelines, deadlines, and prioritizing tasks can help decrease the amount of stress you feel when everything seems to be due at one time. Planning can also work in your personal life too! I use two types of calendars for professional and personal appointments so that I can visually see what I have to do for the day, week, and month. Make use of your smartphone and set calendar invites and alerts too.
Organize
Sometimes being unorganized can cause unnecessary chaos and frustration as you may spend more time looking for items or documents that are often misplaced. Create a filing system and organize documents immediately for safekeeping and retrieval.
Deep Breathing
Deep breathing allows you to relax and distress during moments of high frustration or anxiety. I have a relaxing app on my phone that plays calming tones and music during the day and even at night when I’m getting ready for bed.
Seek Therapy or Professional Counseling
Getting help from a mental health professional is a brave step toward addressing or managing your anxiety. Sometimes we have multiple stressors that happen in our lives and we just need a little assistance in handling our tension. Life can come at you fast, kids get sick, we get sick, our bosses put more pressure on us, and the dog has to see the vet for the third time this week, and don’t forget to bake those cookies before Friday. I know plenty of people function with or without the help of medication. Don’t be afraid to ask your treating provider what options are best for you! What may work for your friends or family members may look different from what works for you. Everyone handles their stress and anxiety differently.
