Happy October from the team at Bird's iSocial to you!

We want to touch upon a topic that reaches an estimated 94% of US workers for our October blog. Workplace Anxiety. According to Wrike's United States stress statistics from 2019, only 6% of workers don't report feeling stressed at work. Around 23% of them described their stress levels as high, while 6% said their levels of stress were unreasonably high. These statistics are saddening and seem overwhelming, which has prompted us to write a blog on how to de-escalate workplace anxiety. We present four tips to overcome and subdue one workplace anxiety! 

Personal Wellness

One excellent measure one can take is building up a routine that fits around one’s work schedule. Making sure you get enough sleep should be first on that list; without proper sleep, the rest of one's day is significantly impacted. Another step to take charge is making sure you're eating healthy. By doing so, you're fueling your body to process the stress of the workplace & fueling yourself to respond appropriately. Try to plan exercise and fitness into your routine, or prioritize it on the weekends. By taking these steps towards improving your wellness, your odds of decreasing workplace anxiety are much more significant.

In-Person Conversations

As we are entirely into the digital era, it can be unclear and anxiety-provoking to try and decipher emotions and intentions electronically, whether in an email chain or via text. Technology has made our lives so much easier in many ways. However, it's been found that a lot of workplace anxiety comes from misinterpreting emails or waiting to hear back about a problematic subject online. If you find yourself often in these situations, don't be afraid to pick up the phone or have an in-person conversation to clarify things. It can clear up your mind after discussing the issues right when they form. 

Know Everyone's Name

A significant step in creating solid work relationships begins with learning names. Having a stable one-to-one connection with people in the office makes one's life easier. You can better address problems with an individual if you've already established a relationship, and it can cut down on workplace gossip. It all begins with knowing people's names and their responsibilities. Even if you forget a person's name, don't be embarrassed to ask again! There is no better time than the present to start building stronger relationships at the office.

Confront Your Anxiety 

For a real change, sometimes it's best to embrace and confront your anxiety. For example, if leading meetings provokes anxiety, take a public speaking course. If speaking with coworkers makes you nervous, try and form single connections to easier If you're worried about public speaking, take an online class to improve your skills. If you're afraid of talking to your coworkers, try to strike up a conversation via video chat or eat lunch together. 

According to Marla Deibler, licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of the Center for Emotional Health of Greater Philadelphia, people with anxiety should avoid limiting themselves. 

"Push yourself to enter situations that lead to anxiety to demonstrate to yourself that you can persevere and succeed despite the anxiety," Deibler says. "Exposing yourself to anxiety-provoking situations, rather than avoiding them, helps to change your relationship to anxiety and increase your confidence in these situations." - Marla Deibler. 

Remember, "Anxiety disorders are real, serious medical conditions — just as real and serious as physical disorders such as heart disease or diabetes," - ADAA. Whatever you're feeling at work is valid & the chances of your coworkers experiencing the same feelings are very high. Work anxiety can have a significant impact on your daily life and tends to follow one home, but it doesn't have to be all-consuming. Using some of the tips we've pointed out can help you manage your workplace anxiety. We hope you've found this helpful and informative. 

-The Bird's iSocial team