5 Ways to Deal with Stress and Anxiety at a New Job
A new job is exciting … and potentially stressful.
Stress is a debilitating threat for millions of people across the globe. While physicians, colleagues, and family alike may coax you to limit the stressors in your life, such advice may seem like a meaningless platitude when faced with the reality of a new job.
When you’re exiting an old job and entering a new company, you’ll be faced with a barrage of problems that can seem daunting. These anxieties are even more extreme when you’re entering the workforce fresh from college. Excitement about a new career can quickly transform into panic, so below are a few tips on how to tackle work-related stress and beat anxiety.
1. Exercise regularly
Anxiety can feel like a suffocating shroud, enveloping you in a cloud that drains you of focus and energy. When you feel especially anxious, one of the best ways to manage it is by staying active. Exercise is not only advantageous for your body, it can have an impacting effect on your mental health.
Simply logging in a daily workout before you go into the office can simultaneously boost your confidence and ease your tensions about the day. Exercise will stimulate the release of endorphins in the brain, making you feel more tranquil and at peace. Remember that you don’t have to join an expensive gym or punish yourself with an extreme routine. An effective workout can be as simple as walking to work or dancing in front of your mirror before a shower.
In addition to working out at home, you can also make a commitment to being more active in your work environment. If you have to sit in a chair all day, consider taking intermittent breaks for a walk around your building. You could also climb stairs or even do squats in the bathroom — anything to get your heart pumping and your muscles stretched. Focusing on making your body more fit can also give your mind a reprieve from stressful deadlines.
2. Avoid drama in the workplace
Workplace stress nowadays is a bigger problem than in the past because it’s so much easier to drum up drama and turmoil. Online social networking has made it easier for people to prey on others by using anonymity, and sometimes the boundaries of work and personal life can blur.
The psychological effects of work stress can be hazardous to your health, even prompting work-related stress claims in extreme cases. To eschew the effects of stress, it’s best to avoid drama as much as possible.
As with any workplace, your new job is bound to have internal disarray that may stem from any number of issues. It’s best to try avoiding unnecessary conflict while maintaining your focus and a positive attitude. Remember that completing your work is more important than establishing arbitrary relationships or feeding into the negative energy of others who only want to gossip and meddle.
3. Communicate how you feel
While many people ask themselves how to deal with a stressful job, one of the best solutions is to pose the question to a friend, or better yet, a professional therapist or career coach who can help you work through anxiety.
A lot of new employees may feel apprehensive about talking about their feelings or asking for help, but communicating honestly is one of the best things you can do to make your work experience healthy and fruitful. Some people may only experience an acute bout of anxiety with their new job, but other people struggle with chronic anxiety.
Setting up an appointment with a therapist can help those struggling with anxiety disorders as well as other mental health issues that can make a new career seem overwhelming and draining. It can also help to bring grievances and concerns to the attention of your boss, co-workers, friends, or family. Keeping problems inside can only exacerbate issues long term, so it’s best to maintain a degree of transparency and openly communicate your worries to those who are willing to listen and help. Honesty is always valued in a work environment.