How to Fix Pain at Work

Muscle and/or joint pain are the most common reasons for missing work. There are many complex reasons for this pain – an interaction of human genetics, psychology, lifestyle, social environment, physical environment, economics – but there ARE a few simple things you can do to prevent or manage pain and strain in the workplace:

• Look after yourself outside the workplace – eat nutritious food, get enough sleep, exercise a few times a week, and stay in touch with people you like. If it’s You vs The World, make sure that you come in fighting fit.

• Make sure your work setup is as supportive as possible – if you are uncomfortable from the moment you start, it probably won’t get better from there. Set things at the right height and have appropriate support for your feet, butt, back, arms, wrists, neck, etc. If you don’t have what you need, talk to your manager. You’re more productive when you’re supported, so aside from it being your right, it’s also a win-win scenario economically.

Work in manageable chunks – be productive for as long as you can, then change what you’re doing or take a break to give your body and mind a chance to unwind. If you’re feeling tired or overwhelmed, communicate with those around you to get the job done without burning out. Again – you getting hurt or sick is bad for you and bad for business.

• If you get pain somewhere, try changing one of the factors listed above (e.g. look after yourself better, change your work setup or flow, etc.) and give it some time (everything takes time). You might also benefit from stretching and/or strengthening the area – find some on the internet or ask a professional.

• If you have pain somewhere that’s worrying you, see a professional sooner rather than later. There’s usually a simple explanation and way to manage it, but the longer it goes on, the longer it takes to get better