About three out of four people report that their lives are affected by stress, causing interference in both their personal and work lives. More often than not, workplace stress is caused by deadlines and dealing with challenging people. While some thrive on conflict, others want to run and hide. Regardless of how you approach conflict, lack of communication and palpable anxiety can lead to venting and gossiping rather than problem-solving. Learning how to manage anxiety in the workplace will allow you to remain calm, focused, and productive when taking on tasks and interacting with others.

Know Your Co-Worker’s Names

Try to get to know your co-workers on a first name basis and their responsibilities as soon as you can. Creating a one-on-one relationship with the people you work with will allow you to address any issues that may arise directly with that individual rather than venting or gossiping with others. Working with hundreds of people can make remembering names a challenge, but if you forget a person’s name don’t be afraid to ask again. It’s never too late to work towards building a stronger relationship with your co-workers in the office.

Set Achievable Deadlines

There are times when we take on tasks and agree to timelines and deadlines that are not realistic to meet. While there are deadlines that are not negotiable, being upfront and honest about your workload and what you can manage will save you hours of stress and anxiety down the road. If you can finish the task or project before the deadline, even better.

Use Neutral Language

Rather than approaching a disagreement from a defensive approach, talking to your co-workers in a neutral and calming tone will help reduce everyone’s anxiety at work. Ask questions on how to approach the issue with their input will make others more likely to listen to what you’re saying.

Ask for Clarification

When we have a lot on our plate, it’s easy for us to say “yes” to something without fully understanding how to complete something. While it can be uncomfortable to ask for clarification or instruction on how to do something, it is worth it, in the long run, the squelch any anxiety you may have about fulfilling your responsibilities. Additionally, asking your superiors for clarification shows that you care about what you’re doing.