Work and Life Balance Hacks
“It’s impossible to overstate the importance of a healthy life-work balance,” says pain management specialist Dr. Jordan Sudberg. “People living with chronic pain often experience increased stress and anxiety levels when balancing work, school, family and personal responsibilities.” And as is well known by now, too much stress can cause or worsen chronic pain symptoms—a tragic cycle that many people living in constant pain are unfortunately all too familiar with.
In light of this information, Dr. Sudberg’s top eight pain management hacks go above and beyond the typical work-life balance tips, designed to help people manage stress and anxiety and increase job functionality and overall quality of life.
1. Learn how to relax. “To ensure a healthy and fulfilling life for yourself, you must first learn how to relax. Meditation is an excellent way to do this.”
2. Get enough sleep. “Sleep deprivation is a primary cause of chronic pain,” says Dr. Sudberg. It’s essential for people who experience chronic pain to get enough sleep every night to avoid tiredness, moodiness, and immune suppression, which can lead to regular pain flare-ups or worse.
3. Exercise regularly. “Working out is a great way to deal with stress, improve your immune system and decrease the risk of chronic pain flare-ups.”
4. Stock up on healthy food. “I advise my patients to stock their house with healthy snacks and food,” says Dr. Sudberg. “It’s always more difficult to make healthier choices when you’re hungry or tired—making being proactive about keeping your pantry stocked an invaluable step towards increasing work productivity and overall life quality.”
5. Minimize exposure to toxins. “Many people don’t recognize that small amounts of toxins in our homes can worsen chronic pain symptoms. I advise my patients to clean their environment and purify their homes of unhealthy toxins.”
6. Avoid overexertion. “Pain management is a life-long process,” says Dr. Sudberg. “It’s important to avoid over-exerting yourself at work, in school, or other areas of your life.” Doing so can exacerbate chronic pain symptoms, leading to more strain on your body and mind.
7. Maintain regular sleep patterns. “Everyone needs six to seven hours of sleep every night,” says Dr. Sudberg. “When you regularly get proper sleep, you’re more likely to feel rested and ready for whatever the day throws at youThis is especially important for people living with chronic pain.”
8. .Meditate. “Meditation is an excellent way to relieve tension and stress,” says Dr. Sudberg. As noted above, this effectively reduces the risk of chronic pain flare-ups and promotes overall health, wellness, and quality of life.
Dr. Jordan Sudberg has been a leading specialist in chronic pain management since 2000, when he graduated from Brown University. For nearly two decades, he’s worked tirelessly with individuals daily to help them find relief from debilitating pain symptoms. He is the founder and director of The Chronic Pain Management Center, a private practice specializing in chronic pain management. He works as a full-time consultant for many other offices throughout the country.