Calming anxiety at work by supporting your nervous system

Calming anxiety at work by supporting your nervous system often starts with understanding what is happening in your body, not just your thoughts. Yes, anxiety can form in a physical feeling as well as mentally!

Anxiety is often misunderstood. Many people believe they just need to think more positively or push through any discomfort. While mindset does matter, anxiety does not live only in your thoughts. It lives in your body too.

That is why you may often feel frustrated when one form of advice does not work. Trying to think your way out of anxiety can leave you feeling like you are failing, when in reality, your nervous system is simply overwhelmed.

Notice the physical signs to calm anxiety and your nervous system

Anxiety can manifest itself physically by the following:

Tight shoulders

Shallow breathing

Restlessness

Headaches

A constant feeling of being on edge

These are all signs your body feels under pressure.

Calming anxiety at work by supporting your nervous system becomes easier when you start noticing these red flags in your body.

Small actions really help calm anxiety at work by supporting your nervous system

When these red flags start to appear you need to take a few minutes to regulate your nervous system again. You can try-

Slow breathing. Deep breaths in and out for a few minutes somewhere a bit quieter.

Make sure you are standing up regularly, especially if you are sat at a desk all day

Gentle stretching, even when sat down, can help calm the nervous system

Even grounding yourself by noticing what you can see and hear can reduce anxiety quickly.

These actions are simple, but they are powerful when used consistently in your every day routine.

They tell your nervous system that you are safe enough to settle and carry on with your work. It can even help your productivity.

Build short pauses into the day

Waiting until anxiety takes over is too late. Planned pauses help prevent it from escalating. Using the new year to plan these into your routine is a great time to start!

Calming anxiety at work is far more effective when regulation is built in, not left until the end of the day.

Consistency matters more than perfection

You do not need to do everything right. Life does take over some days and that is ok. Small actions done regularly calm the body over time.

Calming anxiety at work becomes possible when your body feels supported. What stackable habits can you plan into your day to help calm your anxiety today?

Listen to our full podcast on Anxiety at work from Ian Stockbridge and myself HERE. This blog is part of a series of blogs on calming anxiety at work. Read the next in the series- Reducing anxiety at work by redefining what success means