Mark Lewis, Chief Executive at Hospitality Action, shares his advice for hospitality workers on how to effectively recognise and manage anxiety during challenging times.
The implications of the pandemic have completely transformed how hospitality businesses operate; for those working in the industry, this means adapting to significant long-term changes, which not only affect their careers but daily lives as well.
With government advice constantly changing as the situation evolves, there is still a lot of uncertainty ahead for workers in the industry. The feeling of powerlessness in a new situation can be difficult to manage and it’s normal to experience feelings of anxiousness, to some degree.
Added financial strain, worries about job security, maintaining relationships and even grief, brought about by the pandemic, have the potential to significantly impact our mental health. What’s more, for those with pre-existing mental health issues, these feelings can easily become heightened.
Acknowledgement has to come first. Anxiety can manifest itself in many forms and before being able to manage or alleviate anxiety, the first step is being able to effectively recognise it. Key signs to watch out for are: continual worry, feelings of dread or fear, irritability, poor concentration and sleep disturbance. A full list can be found here.
