It is no longer news that a good number of people working in Nigeria are faced with Stress. Today, we live in a very stressful world. The pace of life is quite a haste. Most human beings faces the problem of stress and anxiety in their life. It is important to manage stress and anxiety to reach one's full potential. Managing stress and anxiety is a learned behavior. The more you manage your stress and anxiety, the more you become successful. Managing stress and anxiety is a very important tool to be successful in your career, in relationships, and life in general. It is important to manage stress and anxiety to reach one's full potential. One of the most important parts of management is understanding the source of stress.
Anxiety is an emotion characterized by feelings of tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure. People with anxiety disorders usually have recurring intrusive thoughts or concerns. They may avoid certain situations out of worry. They may also have physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, dizziness, or a rapid heartbeat.
Having an anxiety disorder can make a major impact in the workplace. People may turn down a promotion or other opportunity because it involves travel or public speaking; make excuses to get out of office parties, staff lunches, and other events or meetings with coworkers; or be unable to meet deadlines.
Causes of Work Anxiety
Workplace anxiety may be caused by a variety of characteristics of the work environment. It's not at all unusual for certain major events to make you nervous or feel temporary moments of anxiety. For example, starting a new job or leaving an old one is sure to make anyone feel skittish.
You spend so much time at work that if things aren't going your way, it can feel overwhelming at times. This may not always rise to the level of ongoing anxiety, but it can be helpful to talk to someone about any of these issues that are causing you to feel constantly anxious about work:
- Dealing with workplace bullying or conflicts
- Meeting deadlines
- Maintaining relationships with coworkers
- Managing staff
- Working long hours
- Having a demanding boss
- Experiencing an overly high workload
- Having a lack of direction on tasks
- Experiencing a lack of perception of fairness
- Feeling a lack of control over the work environment
- Having a low reward (not enough pay, benefits, etc.)
Effect of Anxiety on Employee’s Job Performance
Anxiety takes a toll on every aspect of an affected person’s life, including work. Fifty-six percent of surveyed employees say that anxiety affects their job performance, and half report a negative impact on relationships with coworkers and peers.
Stress in the workplace can take a toll on the entire business operation. Here are some of the worst effects:
I. Missed deadlines
Anxiety in the workplace affects some 40 million Americans, and research from the ADAA found it can decrease work performance. One of the worst results is missing deadlines. Fifty-five percent of employees surveyed said they experienced anxiety about deadlines, which may even contribute to missing them altogether.
one of the biggest drivers of work performance is interpersonal relationships. Unfortunately, those experiencing anxiety are more likely to avoid their coworkers, hoping to avoid interpersonal conflicts. Since work is a collaborative environment, it’s easy to see how workplace anxiety may affect the performance of an entire operation. This means that workplace anxiety is more than just a matter of employee health – it directly affects a company’s bottom line.
II. Higher employee turnover
People who experience anxiety at work are less likely to experience job satisfaction. When employees don’t feel fulfilled or satisfied with their work, they are more likely to seek employment elsewhere. Hiring and training employees can cost thousands of dollars, not to mention the time commitment involved. Chronic stress in your workplace may lead to high employee turnover and wasted money on recruitment efforts.
III. Damage to company image
When companies experience a high employee turnover rate, prospective employees can’t help but wonder if the company itself is somehow to blame. Workers today are interested in engaging and collaborative company culture. If a stressful workplace is leading to short terms of employment, the top talent may seek employment elsewhere.
Ways to Manage Stress and Anxiety at Work
Getting stressed out at work happens to everyone, and it’s perfectly normal. But stress that is persistent, irrational, and overwhelming and impairs daily functioning may indicate an anxiety disorder. Keep these ideas in mind to keep your work life manageable:
- Work! In addition to financial reasons, working can be important for your self-esteem and it adds to your social identity.
- Tell a trusted coworker. Knowing that someone accepts your condition can be comforting and it may reduce any anticipatory anxiety about having a panic attack at work.
- Educate yourself. Learn to recognize the symptoms of your disorder and how to handle them if you experience any at work.
- Practice time management. Make to-do lists and prioritize your work. Schedule enough time to complete each task or project.
- Plan and prepare. Get started on major projects as early as possible - Set mini-deadlines for yourself. Anticipate problems and work to prevent them.
- Do it right the first time. Spend the extra time at the outset and save yourself a headache later when you have to redo your work.
- Be realistic. Don’t over-commit or offer to take on projects if you don’t have enough time.
- Ask for help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, ask a coworker for help. Later you can return the favor.
- Communicate. Speak up calmly and diplomatically if you have too much to handle. Your supervisor may not realize you’re overextended.
- Stay organized. Filing and clearing your desk and computer desktop may rank low on your priority list, but they can save you time in the long run and may prevent a crisis later.
- Plan a vacation. You’ll be rejuvenated and ready to work when you come back.
- Take advantage of employer resources and benefits. Your workplace may offer an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), discounts to gyms, or skill-building courses. Learn what’s available to you.
- Be healthy. Eat healthfully, get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and limit caffeine and alcohol. Try to keep your body and mind in shape to handle challenging situations.
In conclusion, if you are living with work anxiety, it is important to reach out for help. Undiagnosed clinical anxiety can have devastating effects while chronic stress at work can precipitate later anxiety disorders. Make sure to reach out to your employer or a mental health professional to discuss your options.