It’s important to consider how athleticism can play a role in reducing injury rates at work. When we think about it, we often defer good habits like self-care because we think there is not enough time throughout the day. Familial responsibilities, finding time for leisure, sleep, and work can keeps us away from things that nurture our health. Injuries can sometimes be avoided if the body was more capable of handling pressure. This can be achieved through consistent aerobic activity or strength training, which can strengthen bones and muscles.
Is the idea of fitness a platitude? It is certainly looked upon positively, but does everyone have time for it? Realistically, no. Many people are tired after work. Sometimes, a person has to force themselves to essentially engage in more work. That is what it is, further athleticism often requires that in the form of sweat.
It’s not always an attractive activity. It means you will be more tired after and perhaps not have time or the energy to do other things that you may need to do. It can also mean you need to eat more to account for losing calories, part of a balanced diet. A gym membership, plus the added cost of food and gas all adds up. In essence, there are a lot of things that factor into the decision to invest in one’s physical being.
A lot of it is about sacrifices. What would you be sacrificing if you engaged in 20-30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise a few days a week? Perhaps you wanted to go further and go every day. Surprisingly, many people say that their routine gives them more energy to do other things throughout the day. Although not everyone feels the same way, it’s all about give and take. What you take from your time, which could have been provided to others, can be given to you in the form of an investment.
Would any of this make a difference in preventing work injury? It’s certainly speculative and depends on what kind of activity you engage in and how often. However, athleticism and fitness can go a long way in making a person stronger. This in turn allows them to weather any conditions or injuries better than how it would have been sustained otherwise.
No one can be blamed for the things they do not do. As long as people carry responsibility with them, a person should be judged on what they do. Even for those who work long hours as victims of wage slavery and cannot make time for themselves, they understand that oftentimes work isn’t a choice, it’s a requirement.
Personal habits can be good for us and should be considered, but don’t always amount to what we need. People are generally consumed with life and its facets, and don’t judge themselves on what they are not able to accomplish.
There is a lot to the world of work. Injury is one part of that. It’s a consequence that reverberates more strongly among certain industries such as construction, as well as transportation and warehousing. Keep in mind, many injuries cannot be prevented or mitigated even with the help of athleticism, such as traumatic brain injuries.
Although higher physical capacities can certainly help in terms of the effect an injury could have, keep in mind that our quest to get in shape can also result in injury. People injure themselves running, biking, strength training, etc. The result of which can leave us without work and incapable to accomplish things we want to accomplish.
That is why it’s important to limit ourselves. Don’t overdo it, and practice common sense when exercising to avoid the risk of injury. After some time, our efforts can pay off.
A healthier body also has the potential of warding off physical illness such as heart disease. You don’t necessarily need to be muscular to see the results you want to see. Little by little, people find out that they can rely on themselves more if they feel they are more capable. That capability is often achieved through work. It can also be achieved through the things we do in our free time that bring us closer to our happiness.
If you’ve been injured at work, you needn’t stress about what you could have done differently to prevent it. You may want to seek counsel in a workers’ compensation lawyer, however, for financial relief. For more information, contact Livingston DiMarzio Brown, LLP at (973) 718-3769, or online.
[1] U.S. Department of Labor. (2021, November 3). Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses – 2020. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved July 28, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/osh.pdf
