Does Anxiety or Stress take over your day?

Managing stress and anxiety can have a major impact in the workplace. Employees may decline a promotion or other development opportunities because it drives them out of their comfort zone. It affects people in different ways, but common behaviours include work colleagues struggling to meet deadlines, feeling uncomfortable attending meetings, no longer enjoying “perks of the job” like business travel and they will often make excuses to decline social events with co-workers.

A recent CIPD study highlighted the impact that stress/mental health can have on organisations. The findings were;

  • 37% of sufferers are more likely to get into conflict with colleagues
  • 57% find it harder to juggle multiple tasks
  • 80% find it difficult to concentrate
  • 62% take longer to do tasks
  • 50% are potentially less patient with customers/clients.

(The study also found that stress is the major cause of long-term absence.)

Feeling stressed at work affects everyone so the first point to accept it is a normal emotion. However, it is very important to keep your work life balance in check. Stress that is persistent, irrational, and overwhelming and starts to impair daily functioning may indicate an anxiety disorder.

Sometimes simple strategies are the best….

  • Practise time management – make a to do list and prioritise your work
  • Be realistic – don’t over commit or take on work you don’t have time to complete
  • Ask for help – if your feeling overwhelmed, ask a co-worker for help
  • Try to stay organised
  • Take breaks – everyone needs time away from their desk to reflect and clear their head
  • Set boundaries – try not to take work home
  • Savour success – take time to celebrate your successes at work
  • Be healthy – get enough sleep (tiredness can fuel anxiety), eat healthily, limit caffeine, try to exercise regularly

Source – https://bit.ly/2z8ak1k

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