If we’re feeling extremely unwell and are suffering from a significant illness or injury, we take time off work. We’ll be able to explain our situation and take a break in order to allow our bodies to recover. But what about when we’re experiencing minor health complaints that, while not debilitating, do render us uncomfortable? Many workplaces won’t accept minor health issues as a sufficient reason to be out of the office, but you may struggle to feel productive while you’re not feeling 100%. This can be a difficult experience to deal with, but here are a few pieces of advice that may be able to alleviate a little discomfort or suffering.

Analyse Your Situation

First of all, you need to analyse your situation. If you are genuinely feeling too unwell to work, don’t force yourself to go in. If in doubt, you can always visit your doctor and request their advice. They’ll be able to provide you with a sick note if you are too unwell to make it into the workplace, legitimising your illness.

Look Into Appropriate Medication

No matter what complaint you may be suffering from, it’s almost entirely certain that there’s some sort of medication or treatment on the market that will help to alleviate some of your symptoms and make you feel more comfortable and at ease. If you’re suffering from constipation, there are constipation tablets. If you’re suffering from a blocked nose and sinuses, there are sinus relief powders to make relieving drinks. If you have a minor headache, paracetamol can provide you with some relief. If you have minor toothache, you can take ibuprofen and look into numbing gels. Just make sure whatever you take is appropriate for you and, where possible, look for non-drowsy options. Also always take anything according to your doctor’s advice and the label.

Get Sufficient Rest at Night

Our bodies heal a great deal while we are sleeping. So it’s important that you get sufficient rest once you are home if you’re feeling unwell during the working week. Aim for at least eight hours, as this will give your body an opportunity to rest and recuperate. You don’t want to be suffering from fatigue or tiredness at the same time as illness.

Inform Your Manager or Boss

If you’re not feeling one hundred percent, you can always mention it to your manager or boss. They’ll generally be understanding and are more likely to understand if it’s taking you a little longer to get through your usual workload. Making people aware of your situation can help ensure they don’t push you too far while you’re not feeling your best.

These are just a few pieces of advice. Of course, if you are really unwell, you shouldn’t be at work. But if you’re only dealing with minor issues, there are ways to cope with the working day and make the whole experience a little more bearable!