Let’s talk about anxiety
Liz Baalham
If anxiety was a business, it would have seen sky high growth these last few years, with no signs of things slowing down as we enter 2023. As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, anxiety and stress are having a tangible effect on our businesses.
Of course, it’s easy to think of anxiety in terms of its economic impact. But the reality is that poor mental wellbeing affects every aspect of people’s lives, not just their jobs. It’s much more than a ‘bottom-line’ issue.
So as many of us contend with poor wellbeing, here are some tips from our expert team on effective strategies for managing anxiety.
Recalibrate your thoughts.
Recognising and managing unhelpful thoughts is a great first step towards lowering your anxiety levels. Start this process by:
Deliberately changing your narrative.
Take a break from social media, and skip any miserable news stories that will feed your anxiety.
If you’re making lots of plans and then struggling to achieve them, stop planning. Instead, choose one thing you want to achieve, no matter how small, and then go and do it. Tick that off, then start the next thing.
Reset your behaviour by consciously doing things differently.
Humans are creatures of habit and routine. Sometimes, those routines can become detrimental to our health and wellbeing without us realising it. Make a conscious effort to approach part of your routine in a different way that might work better. And guess what? Over time, that conscious behaviour will simply become part of your new and improved unconscious behaviour.
Recognise when you’re feeling okay.
On the days where your anxiety isn’t as bad, acknowledge it, appreciate it, and enjoy the moment.
Talk to someone.
It’s easy to bottle things up, especially when you’re busy. For many of us, the idea of sitting down with a trusted friend, or a professional, can seem like a distraction. It can be difficult to know how to start.
However, a good chat, whether over a cup of tea, or in a clinical setting, can be extremely cathartic. It’s a great way to air all your frustrations, and make you feel like you’ve really taken a weight off your shoulders. And it’s also a great starting point for sounding out strategies for improving things.
However you feel right now, there is always help and support available.
ABSTRACT’s webinars on building modern day resilience are a great way to support you and your team with practical, positive steps towards improving wellbeing. Speak to us today.
