How to Reduce Anxiety in the Workplace for Yourself and Your Employees
How do you stay sane in the workplace during the current state of affairs? It’s hard to focus on work without checking the news obsessively, or without feeling anxious about the future of our country and even your own job security. It’s normal to feel stressed out at work when you have so much going on outside of it, but doing nothing about your stress will only make things worse!
Tips for leaders dealing with employee anxiety
As a leader, it’s important to know how to deal with your own anxiety so you can be more sympathetic when dealing with employees who are experiencing similar feelings. Try talking about it openly. Acknowledging that you experience fear, stress, and worry also acknowledges that others do as well—and can give employees permission to feel their feelings without feeling less than or inadequate. They may not experience those emotions every day, but chances are they experience them at some point during their workdays. If you’re just starting out managing people, try running through what it would look like if someone opened up to you about their anxiety. Role-play is a great tool for growth!
1. Talk with your team about ways to relieve stress
Be open about your own wellbeing, share any practices that help you stay calm. This will create an atmosphere of trust where people can feel safe talking about their own experiences. A leader’s example is powerful—when a leader is open about their wellbeing challenges, they model a positive approach to work-life balance and set an example that can be emulated by staff members.
2. Encourage employees to learn coping skills at home
Stress is always present in some form—it can be good, bad or neutral —and it affects everyone differently. When employees learn stress reduction techniques at home, they bring those tools into work with them and lessen workplace anxiety overall.
3. Encourage healthy routines
Employees who engage in healthy activities outside of work report feeling less stressed during working hours and are better equipped to handle stressful situations when they arise. Studies show that workers have higher productivity levels, report fewer health problems and have more energy throughout their days when they exercise regularly. Don’t rule out getting professional support: whether it’s from health care providers or counseling services, regular checkups can help keep leaders focused on mental health for themselves and their team members.
Tips for organizations dealing with employee anxiety
It’s easy to overlook mental health because it’s more common and socially acceptable to tackle physical wellness in the workplace, but your body cannot operate properly without a steady mind; making sure both are tended to is necessary to maintaining overall workplace wellbeing. The culture will be healthier as a result!
1. Establish policies that promote mental wellbeing
Make mental wellbeing self-care behaviors part of company culture so individuals don’t have to rely on their supervisors to request accommodations due to personal circumstances. This will go a long way to reduce stigma around mental health. It can be as simple as designating a “mental health” PTO policy, encouraging leaders to set the example for sending emails only within work hours, or practicing stretch breaks during long meetings.
2. Create an environment where speaking up about depression isn’t taboo
According to Psychology Today, approximately 10 percent of Americans suffer from clinical depression each year, yet only 25% ever seek treatment for it. This means that many workers experience symptoms of depression and other mood disorders during their careers, but most never discuss how they feel with a trusted confidant. Instead, they try to maintain a cheerful façade while silently battling emotional distress—which makes it even harder for employers to identify what’s really going on behind closed doors. Management needs to encourage their teams to speak up before things get worse and performance slips.
3. Address cultural issues within your organization
Any efforts geared toward increasing workplace wellness must begin at the top—but that doesn’t mean leaders should isolate themselves from seeking advice elsewhere. Cultural factors, from office environments to management styles, can play a significant role in mental health and morale. Communication is key— when employees see their manager taking an active interest in their personal development and learning new strategies for handling stressors, they’re more likely to respond positively to workplace wellness initiatives. Lowering stress at work doesn’t have to be complicated—it just needs to be a priority.
Talking is the first step
No matter what industry or size of company you work in, mental health is a universal issue we all experience. Encouraging a culture where people feel safe enough to open up about their emotions leads to happier workplaces and employees. If nothing else comes from reading through these tips, hopefully it spurs more dialogue about mental health across offices everywhere. There’s no shame in opening up about what you’re experiencing. Our goal should be healthy workplaces and happy people; small steps make big differences over time!
