Trying to combine a career with a chronic illness can be incredibly tough. Even getting out of bed and performing daily tasks can be a challenge, so working from home may be the best option. Thankfully, there are lots of jobs that you can do from your home, such as freelance writing or becoming a virtual assistant. Here are a few tips on how to work from home with a chronic illness.
Create a Healthy Workplace
While it may be tempting to work from the comfort of your bed, it’s best to create a workstation that’s away from your bedroom. Creating a healthy workplace is crucial, especially if you want to work at your full potential. It’s important that you feel comfortable and relaxed when working, so letting natural light in, finding an area in your home where you can focus, a well as ensuring your workstation is the right height for you.
Set Work Hours
While it may seem like a no-brainer, having a structure in place is important when it comes to working from home. It can be all too easy to be distracted, especially if you’re prone to surfing the web and watching YouTube videos, so having set hours to get stuck into your work is a must. It’s important to get a good night’s sleep too, helping you to feel refreshed and ready to start the working day ahead.
Schedule Breaks
Living with a chronic illness can drain your energy and leave you feeling rundown. Sitting in one position for a long period can cause your symptoms to get worse, so it’s crucial that you schedule regular breaks. It’s important that you find the right balance between doing activities and resting, so while it may be tempting to stick at your work, having regular breaks can give you a chance to relax and unwind. Having some time to stretch your legs and eat some food can help you be more productive with your work too.
Stay Connected
If you have been used to working alongside others, being on your own can be incredibly isolating, therefore, it’s important to stay connected with your colleagues, friends, and family. Whether it be your nearest and dearest dropping in to say hello or using social media platforms like Facebook as a way to stay in touch with your friends, try to reach out to others if you’re struggling. What’s more, there are various online communities and forums for those with a chronic illness, giving you a platform to speak out and share experiences with others in the same boat as you.
Seeking Help
Although there is no cure for chronic pain, you may receive narcotic pain relievers from your doctor to try to manage your symptoms, however, this can lead to addiction and in some instances, you may find that you have had to give up your job because of it. If this is the case, you may want to consider contacting the-medical-negligence-experts.co.uk who can help with filing a medical negligence claim. If your illness is caused by something a medical expert failed to diagnose, compensation could make it easier to cover your personal finances and take the stress away from you.
Many of us take our health for granted. For those living with a chronic illness, performing the simplest of tasks can seem like an impossible mission. If you have no choice but to work from home, there are all sorts of things that you can do to make the situation that little bit easier, such as creating a healthy workplace, setting work hours to give you more structure, as well as factoring in regular breaks.