Working while living with psoriasis can be difficult. If you work a typical 9-to-5 job and have psoriasis, learning to balance the demands of your job with the limitations of your condition is crucial. Here are 5 ways to help you cope better with psoriasis at the workplace.
1. Start a planner to help prioritise your workload.
Stress, a common trigger for psoriasis, is closely associated with the workplace. When there are many things on your plate, it can get quite overwhelming and stressful. Get a journal or planner and start a to-do list. Prioritise work that needs to be done urgently and don’t be afraid to ask for help from your colleagues.
2. Being open and honest with your colleagues about your condition.
Psoriasis can be a very personal matter that you might not want to discuss with your colleagues. But a simple way to avoid confusion about your condition and health needs is to be open about it. Find an appropriate time to discuss your psoriasis with your boss, and then consider sharing information with your colleagues. Be frank and honest with them about how psoriasis affects your work. Sharing facts and answering questions might be helpful to building understanding relationships at your workplace.
3. Make positivity a priority
It can get frustrating when you’re constantly told to stay positive when you’re having a flare up at work. However, a positive mind-set can be trained with meditation and even a little bit of exercise. Cultivate a positive working environment by making friends with your colleagues who are uplifting and encouraging. Stay away from people who bring you and the entire office down.
4. Take time off to relax
It can sometimes feel like you’ll be passed over for a promotion or perceived as lazy if you take days off. However, getting enough down time to spend with friends and family is crucial for your mental health. So do not be afraid to use those days off to book a holiday for yourself and catch up on those missed hours of sleep.
5. Prioritise having a work-life balance
According to the New York Times, millennials are the main advocates and practitioners of the hustle culture. Hustle culture is the obsession with striving. It is the complete abandonment of finding a healthy balance and instead, defining one’s worth, and perhaps one’s entire life, by what is accomplished in the workplace. However, living this way can be unhealthy, especially if you suffer from chronic diseases like psoriasis. Work smart and aim for a healthy work-life balance to keep your disease and mental health in check.
