Coping Strategies for Milestone Anxiety in the Workplace

Written by Stephen Linsley

Work milestones and objectives can provoke anxiousness and dread. Anxiety can be brought on by self-imposed deadlines and the mountain of pressure that comes with them, or even comparing yourself to what others have achieved.?

In the social media age, we increasingly feel inadequate as we look at selective posts from other people and take them as gospel. Studies show that? 77% of millennials and 83% of Gen Z say they feel pressured by milestones.

The ‘grass is always greener’, as they say.

Whilst we’ve always felt some level of stress or inadequacy around this topic, the term ‘milestone anxiety’ has only been used in reference to the workplace reasonably recently.?

In this article, we will explore the common symptoms of milestone anxiety, how companies can help employees to feel a greater sense of purpose and how individuals can help cope with it.?

Common Reasons for Milestone Anxiety?

• Peers or friends achieving what is perceived as ‘better’
• Targets that are not well-defined or realistic
• Feeling stagnant or stationary in the role?
• Feeling unappreciated at work
• Personal life or career not matching up to previous ambitions?
• Level of salary or workplace benefits?

All of these factors have one thing in common. They are all shaped by our own minds and perception, not based on fact. The key to combating milestone anxiety is through changing mindsets, but there are practical things that businesses and employees can do.?

Strategies for Businesses to Prevent Milestone Anxiety?

• Conduct regular 1:1s between managers and employees to establish clear, manageable targets and air any drivers of stress.
• Employee recognition software to help employees feel more appreciated and more confident to reach goals.
• Have a HR/Mental Wellbeing programme in place where employees can discuss their anxiety in a safe place.?
• Create communities for employees to socialise virtually. They will feel a sense of belonging rather than competing against each other and create a better culture.?

Strategies for Employees to Prevent Milestone Anxiety

• Make a list of your personal wins throughout the day/week. Compare your achievements to your previous self and not other people’s.?
• Take social media with a pinch of salt. People’s social platforms are generally not an accurate representation or are a ‘highlight-reel’.?
• Have a solid support network. They’ll remind you of just how much you’ve achieved without the natural self-critical lens.?
• Track your own performance. Make sure you check to see if you're on course for your targets.?

Whilst it can be difficult to eradicate completely, we hope these tips can help you manage milestone anxiety and more control of your self-perception so that you do not hold yourself against unrealistic expectations.

How do you cope with milestone anxiety? Let us know in the comments