Navigating through recovery after illness or injury can be quite complex, especially when it involves making a comeback at work. You may feel you're not emotionally or physically prepared enough to jump back into your busy routine.
This article offers helpful insights on what to do if unsure about returning to work post-recovery, while focusing on maintaining your mental and physical wellbeing.
The Impact of Early Return on Wellbeing
It's crucial to understand that resuming work prematurely can hinder your recovery process. This is because your body and mind may still be in healing mode even though the most apparent symptoms have subsided.
Trying to push through this could cause a relapse or additional stress, which won't do you any good in the long run.
Self-Care Strategies
During your time of recovery, self-care strategies are paramount. These include maintaining a balanced diet, getting proper sleep, engaging in gentle exercise if permitted, taking time for relaxation or hobbies, and using psychological or emotional support when needed.
While at work, focus on sustaining these self-care routines as they can provide the regular moments of respite that will help restore your wellbeing.
Consulting With Healthcare Professionals
The road to recovery is not always clear cut. It's crucial to enlist the help of healthcare professionals throughout the journey.
Your doctors and therapists can provide assessments and recommendations, which serve as practical tools when deciding if you’re ready to return to work. Their insights can help align your healing progress with your professional commitments, re-instilling confidence in your decision-making process.
According to Workers Comp Doctors, treating work-related accident injuries effectively requires a multidisciplinary approach involving medical doctors, physical therapists, and chiropractors. This collaborative effort ensures comprehensive care, leading to better patient outcomes and a smoother return to work.
Communicating Openly
It's necessary to communicate your current state honestly and openly to your HR department and immediate colleagues. Your communication doesn't need to include every detail but should offer a realistic picture of your capacity.
This dialogue will create understanding about any adjustments needed in work schedules, duties, or deadlines.
Understanding and Defending Your Local Rights
Learning about your legal rights is a key aspect to consider if you start feeling rushed to go back to work after an injury. Various employment laws protect employees in such situations, depending on your location.
It's important to explore these with the help of local authorities or HR departments. Being armed with this knowledge will not only reduce anxiety but also give you the confidence and legal ground to advocate for your wellbeing at work.
Negotiating Flexible Work Conditions During Recovery
Depending on the nature of your work, flexible conditions such as working from home, part-time hours, or modified duties could be another avenue to explore.
These flexible workplace arrangements can often provide the balance between recovery and continuation of employment.
Partnering with your HR and supervisors to negotiate these conditions is a valuable step in creating a supportive workplace during your transition back.
Designing a Personal Roadmap Back to Work
As you work through the realities of returning to your profession following an illness or injury, it's essential to develop a personalized action plan.
This might include setting realistic expectations about your energy levels and productivity, defining flexible working conditions, or preparing to communicate with colleagues about your current situation.
Remember, your roadmap can be adjusted as you go along. It's all about finding what suits you best in your healing journey while keeping your career on track.
To conclude, returning to work after a significant illness or injury without feeling ready can be challenging. With the strategies above in place, however, you can navigate this journey more effectively, prioritizing your health and wellbeing!
About Rebecca
Rebecca is the founder of The Wellness Society and has a background in mental health charity management.She's the author of two books which were previously on Amazon: The Framework and Understanding and Healing Trauma.
She's passionate about creating innovative, concise and compassionate mental wellbeing tools that address the root causes of distress.