Dealing with Anxiety and Stress at the Workplace

If you are feeling stressed or anxious while at work, you are not alone. Maybe not surprisingly, many Canadians feel a certain amount of stress at the workplace. Here are some strategies to managing workplace stress.

Ask for Help

First and foremost, ask for help. If your stress is due to workload or performance, talk to your boss or supervisor about this. Most employers also offer employee and family assistance or anxiety counselling services as parts of your benefits package that you might be able to access. Taking to another person, especially someone you work with can be difficult, but you shouldn’t have to face stress and anxiety alone.

Avoid Workplace Gossip

One of the key contributors to workplace stress and anxiety is the water cooler gossip. Although at the time the ranting or venting may let you feel some relief, often this will just lead to more stress and a continuation of an unhealthy cycle. Workplace negativity can be felt by everyone in an office or workplace, and it is best to avoid this. If you have issues with specific coworkers, talk to the privately and professionally.

Have Realistic Expectations

If your stress and anxiety is due to work or work performance goals or deadlines you have set for yourself, perhaps it is time to back away and reassess. By setting realistic deadlines and expectations and working at a manageable pace, you may find your stress easier to manage, and your work efficiency and quality improved.

Most Importantly, access those resources and professional help that are available to you. Dealing with workplace anxiety is never easy, but rest assured knowing that you are not alone, and anxiety counselling and employee and family assistance is available.