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Why this matters
Not being able to work can exacerbate stress. If you were not able to do your regular work for any reason, having a plan that minimizes potential negative impact from your absence can make a big difference.
Explore and reflect
Answer each of the following questions:
- If you were unable to do your regular work, does your workplace provide accommodations so you can work from home, part-time, or job share? If these options are not available or possible, who might be able to cover for you?
- What would be the effect on your workplace, co-workers and employees if you were unable to do your regular work? What can you do about that?
- If your organization does not provide a benefit plan, how would you continue to pay your bills if you could not work?
- What insurance or government benefits are available to you?
- What tasks could just wait or be dropped altogether if you were unable to work?
- Your work will likely evolve over time. This means that your needs could change. For this reason, set a reminder to review this plan again in one year.
You may have noticed
Stressful thoughts about work can consume much of your time and energy. Recognize that if your work situation changes, you can still thrive. Knowing what to do when change may be unwelcome or unanticipated may help with decreasing this particular stressor.
Learn more about resilience.