ITS SUNDAY NIGHT You have the unnerving, sinking feeling, tomorrow's Monday………..
I remember a few Sundays ago sitting on the deck looking at the trees outside my house. I felt a profound anxiousness, desperation and uncomfortable feeling taking me over, it would come, then it would go, just like the wind that was howling through the trees.
I had so many people to see, a mountain of outcomes to achieve, children to give my attention, ATTENTION to give my own attention, emails, messages, socials, F$&K!
The thoughts were swirling through my mind. The wind pressure rose like my heart rate and my breathing! I thought F$&K me, 'this is not what my life was supposed to be. I was supposed to be successful'. I was supposed to have my own house. I was supposed to be happy. What happened?
Where did the business owners Utopia wash away to? How did this become my current state of being? Statistics show depression and anxiety are swiftly on the rise. There are so many aspects of a job that can cause anxiety: having tight deadlines, trying to harmonize a work/life balance, dealing with office gossip and politics, meeting your supervisor’s expectation, the list goes on.
I am part of those statistics, along with 350 million other people who live with the same symptoms globally. How could overwhelming stress and anxiety not be on the rise when we are constantly bombarded by repetitive messages, email, contact ability, increasing expectations, and amplified workloads - AND THAT'S JUST PROFESSIONALLY? That’s not even taking into account our personal environment.
SO when you find yourself sitting on a Sunday arv staring obliviously at the trees, or your version thinking of the impending Monday madness, ask yourself - Does your workplace make you feel that way on a regular basis? When thinking about stepping a foot into the office tomorrow, day after day, is anxiety your norm? What can you do?
Here are three subtle suggestions.
1. BECOME SELF AWARE.
Before you can improve your situation, it’s important to understand what exactly is creating your anxious feelings or worsening the symptoms of your condition. Even if the root of your anxiety is something you can’t change, like having more work than you can handle, knowing the cause can help you figure out next steps. It’s a lot harder to reach a destination without a map.
2. ANXIETY RELIEF SELF HYPNOSIS
If you feel anxious, stressed out, worried, doubtful, overworked, overwhelmed, fearful, nervous, or you feel like your emotions are out of whack? Then join me for this 10 minute self hypnosis to get back on track, https://youtu.be/Tpd2L45doS8.
3. FACE THE FEAR & BREATH
The more you fear anxiety, the more powerful it can become. Part of reducing anxiety is accepting that sometimes work is going to make you feel that way. This is a lot easier said than done, but it comes with practice. So, next time you feel your thoughts and heartbeat start to race, take a moment, sit at your desk and tell yourself: “I feel anxious right now and that’s okay, breath 3-5 sec in, 3-5 sec out 10-30 times slowly and calmly, until you feel even the slightest shift. THEN see what you can see, listen to what you can hear, smell any smells, and pay Attention to the calm part of you.
Workplace anxiety happens to everyone. But for those who experience it regularly, it’s not something you should push aside or ignore. Even if you feel stressed out and under pressure, it’s important to take time to manage your anxiety. Work is important, but it’s not worth your mental health.
• CAVEAT ~ This is not a substitute for support from a Mental Health Care Professional, it’s just a handful of resources.
If you would like to learn more, join our Invest in Your Head event, November 15th. Click here to book.