Managing Anxiety When There’s No Room for Error

When you work in roles where mistakes must be avoided at all costs — think medical, security, financial, and transportation professions — it’s easy to become terrified of making one. But there are ways to constructively reduce the risk of potential mistakes and reduce your anxiety. First, distinguish between critical and not-so-critical potential mistakes and focus on the former. Then adopt systems and habits to mitigate those threats. Get support from others to address your weaknesses, while also finding solutions that play on your strengths. Collaborate with others focused on the same issues. Address any self-sabotaging behaviors, like failing to ask for help. Reduce the distractions caused by small-error worries with small actions that eliminate most of them. And, finally, consider a hobby in which you can make consequence-free mistakes.