Work at Home: Don´t Forget Your Health!
When you work from home, it´s easy to get caught up in work and not stop when you should. A common issue for work at home moms is balancing life and work, you constantly try to keep the house clean, deadlines met and kids fed . . . but what we very rarely think of until it´s too late, is our health.
Just a couple days ago, the New York Times reported on “death by blogging”.
To be sure, there is no official diagnosis of death by blogging, and the premature demise of two people obviously does not qualify as an epidemic. There is also no certainty that the stress of the work contributed to their deaths. But friends and family of the deceased, and fellow information workers, say those deaths have them thinking about the dangers of their work style.
The pressure even gets to those who work for themselves — and are being well-compensated for it.
You may not be a blogger, but any type of work can have its hazards, particularly when you are doing the same motions over and over again, or find yourself sitting or standing for long periods. Think about it, what would you do if your back went out? Or if you develop carpal tunnel syndrome? Could you continue in your work at home business?
Steps to Protect Yourself
Often, work at home moms have no insurance, no health policies or anything to help out if they should be injured or get sick. So what can you do to ensure that this never happens to you?
- Be aware of what the hazards are in your business. Don´t ignore the facts, do a bit of research and you´ll find out exactly what you need to look out for.
- Take action to protect yourself. It´s easy to think it will never happen to you, but it can´t hurt to take precautions.
- Plan ahead. If you end up not being able to work for a while, is there anyone else who can take over your business for you? It may be worth teaching a friend or family member some of the basics.
- Save some money. Setting aside some cash just in case is never a bad idea and it could come in very handy if you end up having to take some time off to recover from a work related health problem.
As work at home moms, we need to remember that we are important, too. If you don´t look after yourself, who will? And who will take over your business when you are out for a while?
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You make some good points about being prepared….part of my business requires lifting and moving heavy molds. They are probably about 40 lbs each. As I get older, I often wonder who is going to take over this part of the business for me. I am trying to talk one of my girls into it, but so far, no luck. If something were to happen to me now, I guess I could get hubby to do it….
Lynn, it may even be worth looking at hiring someone in the future, a high school kid or something.
The reason for this post is that I recently hurt my wrist, making typing very painful. Since I write for a living, this is definitely NOT good! :S
In 3 years, my youngest will be in high school. Maybe there is hope yet : )
Nice Topic. I just subscribe to your blog for future update.
Can i link this post to my blog and copy a snippet?
God bless and good luck!
I`d be happy to have you link to this blog, Recruiting Business. Thanks for subscribing!