Whether your employees are working from home or in the office, anxiety is an ever-present challenge. Even more so now that the world is still reeling from the initial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many things have changed, and there’s uncertainty just about everywhere you look.
At this time, taking care of your employees’ physical health should only be the bare minimum. Employers owe it to their respective teams to provide necessary care for their mental wellbeing too. Ensuring that their mental health is in tip-top shape is a proven way to keep your workforce happy, healthy, and productive.
With that in mind, here are some techniques that you and your employees can practice to help manage anxiety better.
1. A Zen Workstation
Our workstations are where we stay most of the time while working. That’s why a calming, clutter-free workspace can help employees keep anxiety at bay. Encourage employees to decorate their workspace with things that bring them joy, like treasured pictures or their favorite mantras.
2. Focus on Your Breathing
Focusing proper breathing brings your attention to it instead of your worries. Try breathing in for four seconds, hold it in for another four seconds, and breathe out slowly through your mouth for eight seconds. Repeat five times or more until you feel better.
3. Create Structure in Your Day
Creating structure helps you focus more on what you can control instead of the things that are out of your control. Employees can do this by creating their schedule and tasks for the day. Seeing your workday broken down into the tasks you need to do will make it easier than facing a day not knowing what to expect.
4. Practice Self-Care
Employees should be encouraged to take care of themselves in any way they see fit. Self-care doesn’t have to be expensive and over-the-top. It can be as simple as FaceTiming friends and family after your shift, stepping outside for a walk during break time, or eating your favorite dessert when you get back home.
5. Take Breaks
Taking breaks is an opportunity to step away from your work and clear your head. A walk around the block during your break time or a chat with a colleague over lunch can help you alleviate work-related stress and anxiety. Stepping away from work for a while can help when you’ve reached a mental block on your task. It allows a sort of mini reset for your brain so you can go back feeling refreshed with new ideas and energy.
6. Ask for Help
Most workplace-related anxiety stems from feeling overwhelmed with the task at hand. Tell your employees that it’s okay to ask for help. Doing this can also lessen the pressure that they might feel, and another set of hands can offer a new perspective about how the task can be done.
7. Work-Life Balance
Maintaining a work-life balance is all about maintaining boundaries. Employees should remember that when they clock out of work, they should clock out entirely. That means no checking of work emails or voicemails when their shift ends. Bringing home your work robs your body and mind of the rest that they should have after working.
8. Focus on Things You Can Control
Focusing on the things you can control instead of the things that are out of your control is one way of easing your anxiety. That also means learning to let things go and learning to let go of control. You can’t control a traffic jam, but you can control how you react to it. You can also control what time you leave home before the rush hour so you won’t be late for work.
The Bottom Line
Work-related anxiety is one of the everyday struggles of employees, and teaching them how to manage it will surely go a long way in strengthening your relationship with them and building a successful business. Remember, a healthy workplace doesn’t just comprise physically healthy employees. It also means having mentally healthy staff. Giving importance to your employees’ mental health is one of the best benefits you can provide, and you can be sure it will pay off.
At WellHealth Works, we are all about ensuring the physical and mental wellbeing of your workforce. Talk to us today about your employee wellness programs by calling 833-935-9355 or via email at info@wellhealthworks.com.
