Best Friend or Worst Enemy?

Pain whilst working is something you can be in control of, however understanding the way you are working is doing you harm is imperative to changing your pain experience. But before we get into that I want you to ask yourself a question: Are you your own worst enemy? I bet if you are truly honest with yourself, you will not like the answer either because you know the answer is YES…

I won’t lie, I too can be my own worst enemy – and I worked like that for a long time, too long in fact. We make choices each day about the way we work. Although as time goes by, most of these decisions are no longer choices but have become habits – bad habits and automatic behaviours. They are things we do without even thinking – especially of the consequences. Sitting for hours on end, rarely leaving our desks except to go to the toilet and then when we do actually have a lunch break, it is spent in front of our computers, eating at our desks. We push on through this all, trying to tick off the never-ending to do list. But at what cost?

Productivity, energy levels, work quality, mood, relationships, and most importantly your body and your long term health all suffer the consequences of these actions. Then there is the acceptance of this pain as a normal part of our daily lives. You become stuck in a constant cycle of pain, searching out the next quick fix to get you over the line and then you keep on doing the same old things, nothing changes and the cycle continues.

This is a pretty dismal existence in my opinion. Changing your pain experience and taking back control of your pain whilst working starts with one thing – YOU and the realisation that the way you are working is doing you harm! Just because you have done something the same way for as long as you can remember doesn’t mean it is the best way or good for you (and in actual fact it is probably what got you to the place where you are now)!

But habits – even bad ones, can be changed. The first step in taking back control of your pain is changing your behaviour and making a commitment to ensure you look after yourself each and every day. What is the point of working hard, if you are then not able to enjoy the rewards of your efforts because pain is getting in the way?

So, I will leave you with is this question – Do you want to be your own best friend or your own worst enemy?

The choice is yours. Choose wisely.

Here’s to your Work Health Wellness.

Cheers, Cath

P.S. Are you ready to say goodbye to the days of being your own worst enemy? Then YOU know we need to talk. Click here to arrange your FREE 20 minutes consult with me!

P.P.S. Take the first step to taking back control and get your FREE copy of the How to Manage Your Pain at Work Checklist by clicking here.