The booming economy in Thailand is a wonderful accomplishment, but sometimes all of that success exacts a human cost. The breakneck speed at which modern office culture works can take a toll on the health of office workers who toil long hours in high-stress environments. There are a variety of symptoms that begin to manifest in overworked individuals such as headaches, eyestrain, fatigue, as well as chronic pain in the hands, arms, shoulders, neck, and back. All of these together add up to a condition called Office Syndrome.
Other symptoms of this debilitating condition include mental health issues like insomnia, irritability, depression, and anxiety. Worse yet, computer users suffer an increased risk of developing upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. Fortunately, there is a course of Office Syndrome treatment (this is commonly referred to as แก้ออฟฟิศซินโดรม in Thai) available that can halt and reverse the damage done and prevent further harm from taking place. Let’s take a closer look at how you can prevent Office Syndrome from happening to you!
- Regular Exercise -The best way to prevent Office Syndrome is to stop it from happening in the first place. Daily office work is a sedentary lifestyle that can easily lead to muscle soreness, stiffness and weakness. If you engage in regular exercise like stretching out, walking, swimming, and strength training it will counteract those negative effects. It is also highly recommended that office workers join Yoga and Pilates classes, they are terrific ways to improve posture, flexibility and strengthen core muscles.
- Ergonomics – A workspace that has been designed with ergonomics in mind is a great way to ensure workers can maintain correct posture, which will reduce the risk of suffering strains and injuries. Modern ergonomic office furniture and space arrangements include adjustable chairs that provide back support, wrist supports that prevent carpal tunnel problems, and computer monitors kept at eye level that can prevent neck strain from developing.
- Mental Health – While Office Syndrome is most obvious in terms of its effects on physical health, it also manifests as mental health problems. The chronic stress inherent in the busy workplace can cause symptoms like irritability, anxiety, and depression. Stress management techniques like mindfulness and meditation can be employed to improve the worker’s mental health and well-being. Yoga and mindfulness-based practices can be highly effective for reducing stress in the office.
- Eye Care – Office workers tend to stare at screens for long periods of time can lead to one of the most common Office Syndrome symptoms, digital eye strain. This condition is caused by keeping the eyes focused on a computer display for a long, uninterrupted period of time. This problem has now spread beyond the office environment thanks to the digital electronic screens in daily use with smartphones, tablets and other handheld mobile devices! It’s important to take brief, frequent breaks to rest your eyes to prevent digital eye strain.
Office Syndrome poses a major health problem for office workers, as has been demonstrated in Thailand’s high stakes corporate culture. If the previous strategies are implemented, they can help control and prevent Office Syndrome by creating a healthier workplace.