The 10 keys to professional success for migraine sufferers

Migraine sufferers can have successful careers on their own terms. They may get the added satisfaction of overcoming a serious health problem by doing so.

Migraineurs have made important contributions to society*. I flourished in my early career as an actuary and financial services executive, despite ongoing battles with migraine. The road to success had many pitfalls and I want to share with you what I learned.

You will have your own definition of “success”; and besides, only you are aware of the frequency and severity of the pain that your migraines cause you. As a result, your journey to success will be unique and challenging. It will also be a dynamic process as internal and external conditions change.

Are here The 10 keys to your successful career:

one. Migraine management is an integral part of your career plan

Your medical condition means that you will not be able to perform at a consistent level due to various factors beyond your control. This has two implications:

• Over time, you should do what you can to control more of these factors (triggers, lifestyle, etc.); Y
• it is important to adapt your work style to take into account your migraines.

Ignoring the reality that you will have future migraine attacks could mean that you will sometimes perform poorly at work. Therefore, your career plan must incorporate this reality.

2. know yourself

You need to make a realistic assessment of what you are capable of if you could manage your migraines properly.

The suffering associated with migraine, once separated from the pain, can be reduced with coaching. Ask yourself (and/or others): “What am I really capable of, if I can limit the degree of suffering my migraines bring?”

Don’t underestimate yourself – you have strengths, abilities and abilities that may have been hidden until now. Your potential is greater than you think. Knowing yourself also involves pointing out areas where you are weak, assuming you haven’t already…

3. I will prevail!

The greatest prejudice that human beings can show is to give up. I know that a long-lasting headache or a series of migraines can lead to despair. But if you have a career plan that includes migraine management, despair is less likely to take root. Instead, you determination and willpower You will overcome these temporary setbacks, because an even deeper desire to succeed at what you enjoy and what you are good at will overcome despair.

I can assure you that this sense of mission, of fighting against all odds, will make the ultimate success of your career that much sweeter.

Four. Take a weekly (or longer) approach

Give yourself permission to have bad days!

The nature of the migraine beast is that those days of pain and suffering loom large in our psyche. I have narrowed the scope of this problem by monitoring my migraine status every day and then reviewing the results every week and month. Knowing that there will always be bad days, I can ask “How am I doing in general?” This longer-term perspective also engenders a sense of appreciation for the days when I’m okay.

5. Be a cultural fit for your organization

You can be an entrepreneur or be in a small or large company. Whatever the organization, it must allow for the flexibility that your migraines will require.

A position that requires you to be at your desk during normal work hours, no matter how you feel, will prove more difficult than a job that is measured by what it produces at the end of a particular time period. A company or industry that has a more relaxed environment will probably be a better fit than one where a crisis occurs every day.

If you choose to own your own business, you set the working conditions to a certain extent. Here, your success depends on you and only you. Ask yourself if being independent outweighs that kind of pressure. If you are too successful, stress can become a problem unless you learn to delegate and collaborate with others.

6. Get support teams for your pain and suffering

There are many remedies for migraine pain, ranging from over-the-counter to prescription, from abortive to preventative, and from medical to alternative. In my opinion, it is essential that you have ongoing access to a trusted health care provider; at least he or she will be able to reduce the amount of pain you have.

At work, you’ll discover who you can trust with the truth about your migraines and what they mean for your work style. The most important person is your boss, then your support staff and trusted colleagues. You can validate their trust by maintaining integrity and achieving results.

In addition, family, friends, or an outside coach can be indispensable sources of support and encouragement.

7. Organize plans B

What can you do when job requirements and migraine attacks collide? The menu is varied:

• Have your rescue medication with you at all times.
• Use a break area in the office
• hot or cold compresses
• Being able to work from home
• Share with trusted coworkers that you are not at your best
• ask for more time
• If possible, delegate

8. Make sure you are committed

At first glance, it may seem easier to run your run at a slow speed so you have less stress. However, this can create the risk of being put in a position where his talents are underutilized, leading to frustration and a lack of commitment to his work. At that point, your career plan will be derailed and it will be up to you to get back on the path of meaningful work.

9. The little things!

Minimize your chance of having a migraine by:

o Avoid food triggers

o Limit stress

or get enough sleep

o Adequate exercise

Hydration

o Ensure adequate lighting

o Taking breaks

o Avoid odors as much as possible

10 keep your perspective

These keys are quite comprehensive and can seem overwhelming. They are, in fact, a lifetime recipe for professional success. How satisfying it will be for you to declare one day: “I achieved my goals, further spurred by the fact that I had a steeper hill to climb.”

However, career is only one aspect of life. It is balanced by family, recreation, friends, health, spirituality, travel, finances, learning, etc. A single approach can be dangerous, just as an exclusive approach in your fight against migraine is very limiting. I wholeheartedly support you spread your wings!

Lastly, don’t be so hard on yourself. It is never your fault if you have a migraine. The great counterbalance to all the serious stuff in the first 9 points is a sense of humor: being able to laugh with others and, above all, laugh at yourself. That, my fellow migraineurs, is my biggest endorsement of all.

You can have a meaningful and successful career. Planning ahead using the 10 keys will improve your chances of success. While it may seem like there are more obstacles for you than others, with dedication and support, as outlined above, I know you can achieve great things.

* See http://www.migraines.org/myth/mythgood.htm.