COMBATING CAREER ANXIETY WITH MINDFULNESS AND PERSPECTIVE

Career anxiety is a pervasive psychological phenomenon affecting students, early-career professionals, and mid-career individuals alike, manifesting as persistent worry, self-doubt, and fear of professional failure. In the context of high-achieving academic environments — such as the Presidential School in Nurafshon (PSN), Uzbekistan, where students face rigorous academic demands and high societal expectations — the incidence of career-related stress is particularly pronounced. This article examines the nature and origins of career anxiety, explores how mindfulness-based practices and cognitive reframing of perspective can serve as effective countermeasures, and draws on evidence from educational psychology, positive psychology, and counseling research. Using PSN's institutional approach to well-being, career counseling, and social-emotional learning (SEL) as a contextual case, the article argues that an integrated framework combining mindfulness training, realistic goal-setting, alumni mentorship, and structured career education can substantially reduce career anxiety. Practical recommendations are provided for school counselors, educators, and institutional leadership.