If you have a stressful job then you will understand what an impact this can have on both your mind and your body. If you want to help yourself, then you first need to pinpoint the aspects of your life that you need to change.
Working Overtime
It’s rare in this day and age, to find a job where you get to leave on time, every single day of the week. You may find that you don’t get as much done as you should and that you also end up doing jobs for other people. Studies have all shown that working beyond your contracted hours can have a detrimental impact on your health. You may even find that you increase the chances of developing heart disease, depression, stroke and even alcoholism too. If you work long hours then you may even find that you have a lower level of cognitive function, and this can result in a poor working performance. If you aren’t sure if you are working too many hours or not then you need to look at the time that you are putting in, right now. Think about it, are you doing more than 55 hours a week? If so then you are most certainly putting a lot of stress on your body and mind and this is never a good thing.
Hearing
If you work in an incredibly loud working environment, then this can have a huge impact on your health. You may go on to develop hearing issues, or even tinnitus too. If this is the case, then you need to make sure that you are wearing all of the appropriate safety gear. This could include earplugs or ear protectors when loud machinery is in use. If you are struggling with tinnitus then check out Miracle-Ear. It’s one of the best treatments if you are hearing ringing, buzzing or humming sounds.
Getting up from your Desk
Being sedentary all the time can be bad for you, but if you work in an office job then you may find it hard to do anything about this. Prolonged sitting means that you are at a higher risk for heart disease and you may even find that you are more prone to developing depression, cancer and even obesity. If you want to help yourself then you need to make sure that you maintain a good posture as much as possible. If you have a fancy chair then this is great, but if you are still slouching then this won’t be doing you any favors. If you sit with your knees below the hip level then this will encourage the spine to lengthen, and the pelvis to tip forwards. This will help you to reduce fatigue, and it will also help with any shoulder or neck tension that you have too. Another thing that you can do is check to see if your company offers desk assessments so that you can work out the best way for you to reduce potential risk. It may be that you get offered more breaks to try and support your health, so it’s certainly worth a try.
Never Sitting Down
Jobs that require you to be on your feet all day can cause you a huge number of health problems. If you work in retail or even in the healthcare industry then this is most certainly the case. Being on your feet all day can cause you to develop varicose veins, swelling in the hands and feet and joint damage too. Prolonged standing can also harm your lower back and feet. If there is no chance for you to sit down during the day, then consider investing in some good footwear. Work boots, high heels or even wellies are the worst offenders, so avoid them where possible.
Long Commute
It’s not always possible for you to live close to where your job is. That being said, having a long commute can have a huge impact on your health. Studies have shown that if you travel for more than half an hour to work in the morning then you experience higher levels of stress as a result. If you want to help yourself then consider carrying a bottle of water with you when you are out travelling. This will help to stop you from becoming dehydrated and it will also stop you from snacking, which can put on weight. If you have to sit or stand on your commute, pay special attention to your posture. If you’re slouching, this will cause you issues.
You’re Kept Awake at Night
Sleep can really affect your work, and work can have a huge impact on your sleep. A lot of adults require 8 hours of sleep a day, although this can vary from person to person. If you have high levels of stress, then this can also interfere with your sleep pattern and your general wellbeing. This can be a vicious cycle to say the least, and if you want to help yourself then you need to spend a few hours unwinding before you go to bed. Consider playing some relaxing music, watch a movie in bed or even light some candles. Sometimes it is the little things that can make a difference to your overall routine.
Get Everything Down on Paper
Write down any concerning or worrying thoughts you have. You might also want to write a to-do list for the next day. Research has shown time and time again that when you write down your thoughts, you can feel way better for the next day. You will be able to let go and you won’t have to hold those worrying thoughts. You may be tempted to write your thoughts down in your phone, but this is something that you should avoid. Sometimes digital devices can be a source of stress because you constantly have emails coming in, and even texts from co-workers and friends. So shut your phone down and write everything on a notepad instead.
