At work with MS What's really worrying you at work?
It can sometimes be helpful to try and "unpick" what's really worrying you if you have concerns about work. It can also be useful to help you decide how you can tackle issues, and in what order.
"From an Access to Work assessment I've got a better desk, an ergonomic chair and a designated parking space nearer to the entrance. These changes have made a real difference."
"Yes it is all extra work to ask for adjustments or apply for a grant but it will pay dividends in the end. It is important to persevere even if you're refused the first time because in that clichéd phrase 'you're worth it'."
What worries you about work?
I'm making mistakes and not performing like I used to
Can you break this down further into things that contribute to the worry?
I find it hard to concentrate in the office, it's hot and noisy
I have lots of things to do at once
I get really tired by 2pm, three hours before I go home
When you break it down, are there things you could start to tackle, either on your own, or with help?
Yes – I could improve the environment to help my concentration
Pick one of the specific worries and write down as many solutions as you can think of, including people who might be able to help.
I could ask my colleague who sits in the corner by the window if they would mind swapping desks
I could try wearing headphones for some of the day to cut down on extra noise
I could ask for screens around my desk to reduce distractions and some of the noise.
I could ask if I could work from home for some of my hours, so I can be quieter at home.
Pick a solution to try
I don't want to involve other people yet so I'll try wearing headphones
What are you going to do? Set yourself a realistic timescale to try this solution to make sure you get it done.
I'll wear headphones for an hour over the lunch period for the next two weeks to see how it goes
Evaluation – it's really important to think about how it went, if it went well, you can tick an issue off your list, if not think about trying another solution.
It helped a bit, but not enough as I can only do this for a small part of the day. I think I need to talk to my manager about moving my desk and getting some screens as a start point.
This process is similar to the problem solving section from MS and me: a self-management guide to living with MS, which can also give you ideas for managing your life with MS.