Anxiety before performance reviews — how to manage the week leading up to it
by Tasha Mohd·May 24, 2026
Performance review week used to knock out my productivity for the entire 5 days before. Here's what I've figured out.
Why the anxiety happens: Uncertainty about outcome + high stakes + limited control. The brain treats this like a threat even when rationally you know your performance has been fine.
What reduced it for me:
Preparation destroys uncertainty. I write my self-assessment thoroughly and early. When I've already articulated what I've done and why it matters, the review becomes a conversation I've already had with myself.
Have the salary conversation separately, before the review. When you know what the outcome is before you walk in, the review itself is just a formality.
Remember the base rate. Most performance reviews for people who show up and do their job are unremarkable in both directions. The catastrophic outcome your brain imagines is rare.
The day before: Don't over-prepare. Do something absorbing in the evening that has nothing to do with work.