Six Steps to Combat Work Stress

Do you feel anxious randomly while you’re at work? Do you get nervous just thinking about your job? If your anxiety revolves around work, you might be experiencing workplace anxiety, commonly referred to as work stress. You’re not alone with this, as the Mental Health America’s 2021 Mind the Workplace report found out that roughly 83% of respondents felt emotionally drained from their work. It goes on to say that 85% reported that job stress affected their mental health.

What Causes Stress at Work

There are a lot of factors that can play into how stressful you feel in the workplace. There’s a common misconception that this means that you dislike your job, which isn’t necessarily true. Stress is a reaction to a situation – it isn't always about the actual situation itself. We sometimes feel stressed when we think that the demands of the situation are greater than our resources to deal with that situation.

Ways to De-Stress at Work

If you feel like you may be dealing with workplace stress, don’t panic. Stress at the workplace isn’t permanent, and there are simple techniques to dismiss the stress from your life.

1. Focus on your breathing – Focusing on your air intake, holding, and exhaling can bring more oxygen in your body and help calm your thoughts.
2. Drink some water – The NHS recommends that you drink 6-8 glasses of water per day which helps improve productivity and reduces the chance of developing a headache.
3. Go for a walk – If able, leave your workspace for a few minutes to get a change of scenery and stretch your legs. Being active is not only good for you but can improve your mood.
4. Get enough sleep – This takes place outside of the workplace, but it’s very important for it. Getting around eight hours of sleep per night will do wonders for your energy level and mood.
5. Meditate – Trick your mind into a calming state by imagining a place or situation that brings joy to your life. Doing this will assist in calming your mind and allow you to focus.

Doctor on Demand

If the tips listed above don’t help, it might be time to speak with a licensed professional. Through Doctor on Demand, FHCP members have 24/7 access to Urgent Care + Behavioral Health providers with different backgrounds and specialties, available when you are.