This January didn’t bring its usual burst of energy—me, ready to hit the ground running and take the world by storm. Instead, it rolled in like a bowling ball, shaking the beautiful, slow bubble of rest and family time we’d enjoyed over the holidays. The January scaries were in full effect.

There’s something about the new year that comes with so much expectation—big goals, fresh sales targets, a packed schedule. And as the work week approached, I could feel the familiar hum of anxiety creeping in.

It wasn’t that I wasn’t ready to tackle what was ahead—I was. But knowing the year would involve lots of travel, big deliverables, and an intense pace had my mind spinning with everything that needed to be done.
Then, one evening, instead of trying to over-plan my way out of the chaos in my head, I decided to do something different. I went to my art studio. I turned on my favourite playlist, grabbed a brush, and started painting. No agenda, no end goal—just colours on a canvas.

To my surprise, the tension and worry began to dissolve. The more I painted, the more I felt my focus shift from what ifs to what now. An hour in, I was completely in flow, and the weight I’d felt earlier had melted away.

Looking back, I realized it wasn’t a coincidence. Creativity had done something profound. It disrupted my overthinking and gave my mind a chance to rest, reset, and refocus. And this isn’t just a personal anecdote—there’s real science behind why this works.

Workplace anxiety is something many of us face, whether we realize it or not.
Over 80% of U.S. workers report experiencing stress at work, and in Great Britain, more than 800,000 cases of workplace stress, anxiety, and depression were recorded in just one year.
The root causes go beyond toxic cultures. Anxiety often stems from:

• High Workloads and Job Demands: Constant deadlines and heavy workloads leave employees feeling overwhelmed.
• Poor Work-Life Balance: The inability to disconnect, especially in a hybrid or remote world, exacerbates stress.
• Job Insecurity: Uncertainty about employment fosters a sense of constant “what if.”
• Lack of Autonomy: When employees feel they have no control over their work, it can lead to helplessness.
• Interpersonal Conflicts: Difficult relationships with colleagues or managers can heighten anxiety

These triggers activate the brain’s fight-or-flight response, narrowing our focus and locking us into what Martha Beck, sociologist, life coach, and best-selling author, calls the “anxiety spiral.” In this state, our creativity is the first thing to go.

Creativity as an Antidote to Anxiety

In Beyond Anxiety, Beck explains that the way out of this spiral is through curiosity and creativity. Creativity engages the right hemisphere of the brain, shifting our focus from fear to possibility. It disrupts the cycle of overthinking and opens the door to calmer, more innovative states of mind.

That evening in my art studio, I felt this firsthand. Creativity wasn’t just a distraction—it was a reset.

But the benefits of creativity don’t stop there. Research consistently shows that creativity drives measurable business results. A McKinsey report revealed that 75% of organizations with high creativity report above-average revenue growth. Creative thinking drives new products, services, and solutions, making it not just a “nice to have” but a critical skill for modern teams.

This means fostering creativity isn’t just about calming anxiety—it’s about positioning your team and organization to thrive in an increasingly complex world.

Practical Ways to Use Creativity to Combat Workplace Anxiety

You don’t need an art studio to experience the benefits of creativity. Here are a few tools inspired by Martha Beck that you can incorporate into your workday:

1. Break the Panic Circuit
   Long periods of stillness—like sitting at a desk for hours—can signal danger to your brain. Beck recommends simple movement to reset the nervous system. Instead, try this: Every 20 minutes, rotate your neck, shift your gaze between near and far objects, or take a short walk.

2. Ask Better Questions
   Anxiety locks us into worst-case-scenario thinking. Creativity invites curiosity. Instead of “What if this goes wrong?” try asking, “What else could be true?” or “What’s one unexpected way to solve this?”

3. Play, Even Briefly
   Play is a powerful way to engage the right brain. Try brainstorming wild ideas, doodling during a meeting, or even taking a moment to stretch and move to your favourite song. A little playful and fun energy can go a long way in sparking creativity.

4. Create Safe-to-Fail Spaces
   Creativity thrives in environments where people feel safe to experiment. Leaders, model vulnerability and make it clear that failure is part of the process.

Addressing Root Causes

While creativity is a powerful tool for navigating stress, it’s not a replacement for systemic change. In many workplaces, anxiety stems from deeper issues like overwhelming workloads, unclear expectations, or a lack of psychological safety. These challenges need to be addressed head-on for creativity to truly thrive.

• Manage Workloads: Set realistic goals and ensure your team has the resources they need to succeed.
• Foster Psychological Safety: Create an environment of trust where employees feel safe to communicate openly.
• Promote Work-Life Balance: Encourage employees to unplug, and model those boundaries yourself.

When creativity is paired with structural solutions, the synergy is transformative. Teams become more resilient, adaptable, and ready to thrive in the face of challenges.

From Overwhelmed to Inspired

That night in the art studio reminded me of something simple but profound: we’re not just machines built for productivity. We’re creative beings, and sometimes the best way to calm the mind isn’t to push harder but to think differently.

As Martha Beck writes, “Curiosity and creativity are the antidotes to fear.” They invite us to shift from a state of survival to one of possibility.

So, here’s my challenge to you:

• What’s one systemic issue in your workplace you can start addressing today?
• What’s one small way you can bring creativity into your day this week?

If you’re looking for ways to inject more creativity into your team’s day-to-day or tackle the systemic cultural issues driving workplace anxiety, we can help. Let’s work together to build a culture that thrives on innovation, connection, and resilience.