It is said that over the course of one’s lifetime, a person will spend 90,000 hours at work. That is a long time, and yet for most people, it is just a fact of life. While it may seem rather dispiriting, the truth is that being an adult has a lot to do with finding a way to monetise your labor. The dreams of childhood are often dismissed in favor of the harsh and necessary practicalities of living in the modern, capitalist world. However, work can be bad for you. A study conducted in the UK found that one’s job was the leading cause of stress in a lot of people’s lives. Of the 2000 people asked, 34% said that work was the most stressful part of their life. This was closely followed by 30% who cited financial problems and 17% who gave health as the cause of their disquiet. The tragic thing about these statistics is that the three most common reasons for stress are actually interconnected. While work is an imperative, not having enough money may make your job more stressful, especially if you are trying to get a promotion. The stress of work can also make you ill, which only compounds itself when you start to become stressed about your health. It is a cycle from which it is difficult to escape.
The cost to the US economy annually of absenteeism due to ill health is an incomprehensible $576 billion. This statistic makes one wonder about a potential correlation between this number and the circumstances of the American healthcare system. With Trump hoping to repeal aspects of Obamacare and replace it with the AHCA (American Health Care Act), 24 million fewer Americans may be covered by 2026. With Trump hoping to spend that money on tax cuts for the rich, it may be that the economy will actually suffer from this choice. In any case, the risk of falling ill at work is well documented. The phenomenon of ‘sick building syndrome’ is real and could be putting your health at risk.
To stay healthy, you have to be proactive and take your life into your own hands. One thing that you may not realize is taking place is that your bones are becoming less dense. It is a natural thing that happens to people as they grow older. There are ways to increase bone strength though (check out these Frequently Asked Questions about AlgaeCal). Before deciding on any course of action with regard to your health, you should always consult a doctor. It is paramount that you seek professional, personalised advice.
Another thing that work can do to your health is create back problems. Sitting down for so long, and in an office you may be sitting for an eight or nine hour stretch, is not good for people. In fact, humans were not designed for it. It can cause things like damage to the intervertebral discs or compression of nerve roots. To combat this, you should invest in a chair which offers you lumbar support. Take regular breaks and walk around for a few minutes. You could also consider working at a standing desk.
