Managing Anxiety at Work—for You and Your Team: Tools, Tips, and Small Shifts That Make a Big Difference

By June 3, 2025July 9th, 2025NFCB Updates, Organizational Capacity, Tools

Anxiety is one of the most common—and most overlooked—challenges at work today. Whether it’s navigating change, looming deadlines, or personal stressors, anxiety affects how we show up and how we lead.

Recent data from the American Psychological Association shows that 77% of workers report experiencing work-related stress. And when one team member is anxious, it can ripple across the whole group.

So, how do we manage anxiety—for ourselves and the people we work with?

  1. Start with Yourself

  • If you’re a team leader or supervisor, your well-being sets the tone.
  • Set boundaries on your calendar. Limit back-to-back meetings and build in breaks.
  • Use grounding techniques. Try the 5-4-3-2-1 method (five things you can see, four you can touch…).
  • Name it to normalize it. A simple, “This week’s been intense—I’m reprioritizing,” invites others to be honest too.

Tools to Try:
Insight Timer
Open Path Collective

  1. Support Staff with Intention

  • Anxiety shows up in different ways—withdrawal, irritability, or missed deadlines. Meet it with empathy.
  • Create psychological safety. Ask how people are really doing, not just about tasks.
  • Communicate clearly. Ambiguity breeds anxiety.
  • Offer flexibility. Adjusting schedules or offering mental health days can make a huge difference.
  • Tap into local support. Partner with community mental health centers or local nonprofits that offer training, peer support, or workshops.

  1. Strengthen Your Culture Over Time

  • It’s not just about reacting to stress—it’s about designing a workplace that prevents it.
  • Offer Mental Health First Aid training. Many local United Ways, health departments, or YMCAs offer free or sliding-scale sessions.
  • Challenge hustle culture. Try “No Meeting Fridays” or celebrate quality over quantity.
  • Encourage connection. Host informal check-ins, buddy systems, or even virtual coffee chats.

Want to Take Action This Week?

  • Set one clearer boundary for yourself.
  • Reach out to one colleague with a caring check-in.
  • Connect with a local mental health partner for training or resource-sharing.

Useful Links:

Let’s make space for wellbeing at work—starting with small steps, local connections, and care.