3 Ways To Cope With New Job Anxiety

You were jumping with joy when you initially received your job offer.

You’re still feeling excited, happy, and grateful, but other emotions are starting to creep in that don’t feel quite as great.

It feels like you’re on a rollercoaster. One minute, you’re feeling on top of the world. The next minute, you’re filled with anxiety, nerves, and denial. 

Any type of change is hard. That includes starting a new job. No matter how excited you are, it’s normal to experience a little anxiety with it.

Here are 3 ways to cope with new job anxiety.

1. Allow Yourself to Feel

Feeling anxious about starting a new job is completely normal. Don’t be so hard on yourself for experiencing a normal human emotion! Allow yourself to experience all of the emotions you’re feeling. Try not to completely dismiss an emotion just because it feels scary to you. The sooner you admit to yourself how you’re feeling and are able to properly process everything you’re thinking and feeling, the sooner you’ll be able to move forward.

Keep in mind that you applied for the job for a reason. The company and role seemed like a good match for your previous experience. Plus, the job hired you for a reason. You have the qualifications and skills that they were looking for. You earned this. Don’t forget that.

2. Take Care of Yourself

When anxiety starts to creep in, it can start to have an impact on your daily life and routine. Try not to dismiss your needs. You need to make sure you’re taking care of yourself so that the signs and symptoms you may be experiencing don’t get worse over time. Try to keep yourself on a schedule. Go to bed around the same time each night and try to wake up around the same time each morning. This will help you try to maintain a good sleeping schedule aiming for at least eight hours of sleep at night.

Make sure you’re not skipping meals either. You should be eating between 3-5 meals during your day filled with protein, carbohydrates, and fats. Fueling your body is a great way to feel better from the inside out. You can take care of yourself even more by trying to exercise for at least 30 minutes each day. Moving your body has been proven to be a natural mood booster and stress reliever, which is perfect if you’re experiencing a little anxiety.

3. Get Yourself Ready

If you’re feeling anxious about starting a new job, try to ease some of those worries by preparing for it. Pick out your outfit for your first day so that you don’t have to stress about it the night before or the day of when you’re trying to get ready that morning. You can also map out your commute to the office. Look up routes in advance, and maybe even do a test drive to make sure you know where you’re going. You can also prep your meals in advance so that your morning coffee, breakfast, and lunch are ready to grab and go on your first day.

Next Steps

It’s completely normal to feel both excited and anxious about starting a new job. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. Allow yourself to feel. Your anxiety will pass once you settle into your new job and routine.

Anxiety is completely normal every now and then, but once it starts to have an impact on your family life and routine, getting help is a must. A therapist will be able to work with you to help you find the root cause of your anxiety, help you work through any signs or symptoms you may be experiencing, and help you get back to living your life to the fullest again.

Reach out today to set up a consultation for anxiety treatment.