So you’ve finally handed in that resignation letter and secured another job that will hopefully launch your career to new heights. Congratulations! But for many, the prospect of starting work at a new organisation can be anxiety-inducing, and for good reason.

Here are some of the mental-emotional responses that might get triggered in you on your first day of work – and how you can combat these to commence in your new position with confidence.

1. Newness and uncertainty

The fear of the unknown is one of the most common phobias known to mankind. Losing the comfort and familiarity of your old position is enough to make anyone clutch their pearls.

Stepping into that new office may make you feel like Alice in Wonderland, plunged into a foreign world where you know so little about its inner workings.

Make no mistake, however: fear and excitement aren’t mutually exclusive. In other words, it’s possible to feel a combination of both – that rush of elation at having secured your new position; the nervous thrill in preparation for your first day; the heart-pounding arrival at the office; the much-needed orientation; and the grateful, apprehensive settling in at your new desk or cubicle as your mind plays that closing scene in “Finding Nemo”: now what?

Cue your shoulder devil telling you all the worst-case scenarios: What if you have made the wrong choice? What if you hate it? What if, what if, what if?

2. Low self-worth and imposter syndrome

As people spend so much of their time at work, it’s easy to tie a large part of themselves to it as well. What will you do now that your sense of security, belonging and identity is out the window?

Then there’s “new kid syndrome” – akin to you being the new student at school, getting stared at by everyone in class. Shift the setting to a new office and it is practically the same thing.

And what if you’re not up to the task? “I have no idea what I’m doing,” your inner voice whispers. As confident as you were during the interview – after all, a big part of aceing those is to “fake it till you make it” – it’s hard to feel that same sense of assertiveness on Day One.

Add the following to your list of rambling, self-doubting questions: What if I’m not up to the task? What if they discover I’m not as good at this as I’d convinced them (and myself) I was? What if, what if, what if?

3. Letting go and moving on

One of the hardest things to let go of when you quit is your squad! No more in-jokes with your teammates, or exchanging knowing looks with your work bestie when the office clown is annoying everyone again.

You’ve said adios to your hidden spot for exchanging the latest office gossip. And now you have to start all over again – not unlike the new kid in school who has to make new friends and find his or her “tribe” once more.

Except, of course, the stakes are now (presumably) higher.

So, what can you do?

Is there no hope then, you ask? Not necessarily. Here are some simple tips that could make the entire transition smoother.

• Establish a new routine along with your new job. Start small; even going to a new place for your daily coffee en route to the office is a good way to begin.
• Familiarise yourself with your new commute.
• Do (a lot of) research regarding your new position and study the duties involved. After all, practice makes perfect.
• Try connecting with a new co-worker by finding common ground, and hopefully he or she will introduce you to more people who will make your new workplace one of sociability and camaraderie.
• Remember why you wanted this new job to begin with: whether it had to do with a change of scenery, better pay, greater flexibility, or a desire to challenge yourself.

As clichéd as this may sound, just keep swimming! And if you feel like you need extra help, don’t hesitate to reach out to your friends and family for guidance; confide in that new co-worker you’ve befriended; or even speak with your boss directly.

And if things really start to take a toll on your mental-emotional health, remember that you can also reach out to professional organisations such as the Malaysian Mental Health Association for support.