Avoid the Most Common Reasons for Lost Days at Work

Did you know minor illnesses, such as coughs, colds, back pain and stress are the biggest causes of absence from the workplace?

There are many ways you can help yourself to reduce the risk of work related ill health.

Back, neck and muscle pain is the most common reason for lost days at work.

Slouching in chairs, rounded shoulders and poking out the chin, even cradling the phone whilst at your desk can cause problems.

When standing, be aware of your posture, do you put all your weight on one leg, stick your bottom out or perhaps stand with a flat back. All these postures can cause back pain.

Consider regular simple exercises to ease muscle tension caused by poor posture and sitting habits. Gentle stretching and core exercises to help strengthen your body are very useful.

Massage with an arnica based salve or warming oil with essential oils of Ginger and Juniper can give immediate relief. Even a good soak in a warm bath with your favourite essential oil can help ease aching muscles and joints at the end of a long day

Stress, depression and anxiety is another major cause of work days lost. Here are some simple tips to manage stress in the workplace.

Organise your workspace and schedule. A study from University College London found that an untidy desk increases stress at work, leads to low energy, anxiety and a bad mood. Take a few minutes each day to remove any rubbish and clutter, open a window for some fresh air each morning.

When organising your schedule, mark out meeting and commitments that can’t be moved, then manage the rest of your time around areas you can control and plan each day.

Making time to step outside can be a great way to reduce stress levels.

Spending time in nature has been shown through many studies to reduce peoples stress levels.

University of Edinburgh led a study that showed participants stress levels decline more steeply where they have more access to green spaces.

Finally the best ways to avoid colds at work is to wash hands regularly with soap and water, avoid anti-bacterial liquid soaps that cause skin irritation for many people. Use a good quality soap with essential oils containing Lavender or tea tree as these are naturally anti-bacterial.

Keep your surroundings clean, regularly wipe down doorknobs and light switches. Avoid getting close to people who are sick. Be cautious about hand shaking and explain why, people will understand.

If you have to use this formality with someone that is unwell, look for a natural hand sanitiser containing essential oils that does not contain harsh chemicals. The right blend of oils has been shown to kill 99.9% of bacteria.

This Blog was provided by Emma Skilton from Neal’s Yard Remedies