Unique Ways to Help Your Work Team Manage Anxiety

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The workplace brings exciting opportunities and new challenges for you and your staff. However, work can also bring anxiety, no matter your industry. Stress and anxiety can lead to absence and lowered productivity on the job. So, what can you do to mitigate the problem? This article will outline six unique ways you can help your work team manage anxiety.

1. Communicate and Appreciate

Have you heard someone say communication is key? It may sound like a cliché, but there is truth to this phrase in the workplace. One way to manage anxiety at work is to keep an open line with your colleagues. You can establish solid communication from the beginning by clarifying what your expectations are. 

Employees should know what to expect daily. Feeling alone or left out of the loop can cause anxiety. If any changes occur, let them know immediately and give them time to adapt. Managers should also check in regularly with employees regarding their performance. Workers appreciate the praise when they’re doing well. Research shows that 53% of workers want more recognition from their managers. 

2. Encourage Breaks and Vacations

In the typical workday, employees have allotted time to take breaks. They typically last between 15 and 30 minutes, and they’re beneficial for workers to relax. However, many employees don’t take full advantage of their breaks. Surveys show that between 66 and 82% of workers don’t always take breaks. Some feel guilty or anxious about taking their breaks. Encourage your employees to use their break time to rest, so they’re productive when returning.

Another problem for employees, primarily in America, is they don’t use their vacation days. When they go on holiday, they have difficulty disconnecting from work, even in another country. About 31% of employees feel obligated to respond to phone calls or texts from work despite being on vacation. Encourage your employees to disconnect when it’s their vacation time. 

Related Reads:

• Why is Mindfulness Important in Business
• How to Hygge at Work for a Happy Life

3. Design a Safe Breakroom 

Taking breaks is essential during the workday. Where they take the breaks matters also. Some employees sit at their desks and don’t get to disconnect truly. One way to help employees is to design a breakroom that provides a safe space. 

The breakroom should feel like a calm place where workers can relax whenever they need a break. Comfortable furniture can make employees feel at ease for a few minutes as they disconnect from technology and workplace interactions. A functional breakroom can reduce employees’ anxiety and stress and create more productive workers when they’re ready to return.

4. Go Outside

Sometimes, all you need is a breath of fresh air to feel better. If your office has an outdoor area, consider taking your team outside when the weather is nice. You could hold meetings or provide lunch in a patio area. Taking your eyes off the computer screen and touching grass can give your employees the necessary rejuvenation.

Many jobs these days take place indoors, which can be good if you live in an area with extreme temperatures. However, going outside has many benefits. The sun provides vitamin D, an essential vitamin that helps your mental health and bodily processes. Being in the fresh air can break the stress in the office and give your employees a breather.

5. Grant Flexible Hours

Working nine to five is a wonderful way to make a living. These hours work well for some people, but others could benefit from working earlier or starting a little later. Allowing employees to set their work hours can reduce anxiety and stress throughout the day.

For example, say the traffic in your area is worst around 8 a.m., but the shift starts at 8:30 a.m. You could allow employees to come in at 7 a.m. instead so they beat the traffic. Or you could give them flexibility and let them start at 9 a.m. Flexible work hours can also benefit employees with family obligations or health care appointments. They’ll appreciate the ability to take care of business without reducing their paychecks or using their paid time off (PTO).

6. Allow Remote Work

Another way to promote flexibility and reduce stress is to allow your employees to work remotely. You could implement work-from-home (WFH) permanently or for temporary situations. Or you could create a hybrid model as many workplaces do nowadays. Ask your team what they want to do. WFH isn’t feasible for some industries, but many companies have benefited from letting their employees do telework.

WFH is convenient for workers who would save time and money if they could work at home. Avoiding rush-hour traffic can reduce anxiety, and employees can save money by lowering their gasoline consumption. Remote work became prevalent during the pandemic, and it’s here to stay. Researchers predict that by 2023, more than a quarter of professional jobs will be remote.

Managing Anxiety in the Workplace

Work is a place you’ll achieve incredible goals and meet lifelong friends. However, the workplace can also bring mental health issues. Anxiety and stress can take a toll on workers, and it’s more common than you may think. Over 80% of employees say that stress from work affects their mental health. Talk to your work team and see if one of these six methods can better manage anxiety in the office.