While many people will experience anxiety on an occasional basis, such as when a deadline is looming over their shoulders, for others, it will be a more common occurrence. While it’s important to remember that you aren’t alone (anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US), you also need to ensure that you find ways to combat and alleviate your anxiety so that it will not stand in the way of your goals – both professional and personal.
One way you can begin this journey is by realizing that you are not your anxiety. It’s just something that you are dealing with – and everyone, no matter how put together or collected they may seem, is dealing with something. With that in mind, here are some simple ways in which you can stop letting anxiety stand in the way of your career goals.
Celebrate your achievements.
Whether you have launched your own business or work as part of a bigger company, you may feel anxious at work because you are dealing with imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome refers to the times when you feel inadequate at work, whether someone has corrected you or you are struggling to complete a task by the deadline. As a result of this, you begin to wonder whether or not you should be in the position at all – and doubt every decision you make.
Therefore, it is vital that you find a way to banish imposter syndrome as early as possible. One way in which you can do that is by celebrating your achievements – no matter how big, or small they may be. Recognizing your wins as opposed to zeroing in on your losses can quickly prove to you that you are exactly where you are supposed to be.
Find a balance between your business needs and your mental health needs.
Anxiety worsens when we allow it to consume our every thought – meaning that you need to find a way to curate the perfect work/life balance. This means that work should not be your only priority – even if you are aiming to get a raise in the near future. Instead, focus on giving yourself a break when you need one and ensure that you don’t work outside of your expected hours.
Take yourself out of negative situations.
If you work within a negative environment, such as within a hypercompetitive office or under a management system that fails to support you, you must know when to call it quits. If you do not find a way to take yourself away from the source of your anxiety, no amount of coping mechanisms will make it go away. This could mean that it is time for you to prepare to switch jobs.
Thankfully, it’s never been easier to look out for new opportunities, with many online job sites even offering specialized searches. For example, if you are looking for openings for nurse practitioners, you can use sites such as Practice Match to embark upon your dream career.
In short, there are various steps that you can take to alleviate anxiety in your daily life, many of which rely on you simply being a little kinder to yourself. While anxiety can make you feel alone or as though nobody understands how you are feeling, it’s important to realize that this simply isn’t true. There is always somebody ready and waiting to listen should you need further support – be that a friend, family member, or trusted professional.
