Tips from Sarah on rebuilding after a workplace injury

Today we will explore some tips that will help you get back on your feet following a workplace injury, whether it is a physical or psychological injury.

When we hurt ourselves and become injured, we have a tendency to take up the advice to rest. You will hear this a lot from your loved ones and/or your doctor.  Whilst this may be true in some circumstances, this is different following a workplace injury.

Being off work due to an injury can make you feel that you have lost control of all aspects in your life, however it is important to maintain a routine so that you have a sense of control and independence regardless if you are at work or not.

The following tips may be helpful for you to get you back on your feet.

·        Being patient and celebrating your progress along the way.

·         Practicing mindfulness to help you learn to deal with difficult thoughts and feelings in a healthier and more manageable way.

·         Setting small and meaningful goals/ activities throughout your day and week.

·         Attending medical appointments to manage recovery, this could be attending appointments with a psychologist, physiotherapist etc.

·         Looking after yourself through ensuring a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise and working on your sleep hygiene.

·         Staying connected with family and friends so that you are not isolating yourself.

·         Joining community or social groups to help you maintain a sense of purpose and belonging.

Lastly, returning to work can also help get you back on your feet whether it is with your current employer or a new employer.

Research has shown that being off work for a long period of time can have a negative impact of how you feel and returning to work is an important step in recovery.

This may seem contradictory to the usual advice to ‘rest up’, however returning to work can help you maintain your routine and allowing you to stay connected, as well as feeling a sense of control.