Managing incontinence in the workplace
Whether reaching the bathroom in time or managing accidental leakage, managing incontinence at work can be a sensitive aspect of daily life.
Maintaining bowel control and ensuring access to a toilet in time are key factors enabling you to complete your tasks without interruption.
This blog post offers practical advice and supportive strategies for dealing with incontinence in the workplace.
Understanding incontinence at work
Getting to grips with your incontinence while at work is key to managing it well, helping you keep up your job performance and stay well.
Urinary incontinence is often categorised into:
- Stress Incontinence - Caused by physical activities or actions that pressure the bladder, such as coughing, sneezing, or lifting heavy objects. This type of urinary incontinence might affect you if you do physical tasks at work.
- Functional Incontinence - This happens when physical disabilities or barriers prevent you from getting to the toilet in time, an issue that might arise in workplaces with limited bathroom access or during busy, immovable schedules.
- Bowel Incontinence - Refers to the loss of bowel control, leading to accidental leakage of bowel content. This form of incontinence can be especially distressing and may require strategic planning around work schedules and breaks.
How incontinence can impact work performance and well-being
Incontinence at work can significantly affect your performance and emotional well-being due to the constant worry over accidental leakage or finding timely bathroom breaks.
Key challenges include:
- Bladder control issues - Having trouble holding it in might mean you're rushing to the bathroom a lot, which can mess with your work and make you feel embarrassed or stressed out.
- Managing fluid intake - You might manage urinary symptoms by reducing your fluid intake, which can affect hydration levels and overall performance at work.
- Workplace stress - The anxiety surrounding potential accidents can create or worsen stress incontinence, creating a cycle of stress and symptoms that might further affect bladder and bowel control.
Discreet management strategies for workplace incontinence
Managing incontinence in a professional environment requires some forward thinking. If you’re facing urinary incontinence or an overactive bladder, you simply want to get through the workday smoothly.
Here are some practical tips for discreetly handling incontinence issues and planning your day around bathroom breaks.
- Choose the right incontinence products - Choose slim, discreet, and absorbent products that go unnoticed under your work clothes, ensuring they provide enough protection. There are plenty of low-key options made just for work.
- Know your triggers - Familiarise yourself with bladder irritants that might worsen your condition. Common culprits include caffeine, acidic fruits, spicy foods, and fizzy drinks. Limiting or avoiding these can reduce bladder irritation and the number of bathroom visits.
- Stay hydrated wisely - While it might be tempting to drink less to reduce bathroom trips, staying hydrated is important for bladder health. Manage fluid intake by drinking smaller amounts throughout the day and reducing intake before important meetings or tasks.
How to plan your day around bathroom breaks
Bathroom breaks are integral to managing urinary incontinence throughout your work week. Here are some handy tips for minimizing accidents at work.
- Know your space - Make sure you know where the bathrooms are at work, and try to stay close to them when planning where to be for meetings or tasks.
- Take purposeful breaks - Don't wait until you have to go; plan bathroom breaks throughout your day. This helps if you're dealing with a sensitive bladder and cuts down on worry about sudden needs to go.
- Set reminders - This can be done on your phone or work computer to help you remember when it's time for a break. It's a handy way to keep things running smoothly without drawing attention.
Manage your workplace incontinence confidently with Incontinence Shop
Dealing with incontinence at work can be tough, but with some good info and planning, you can handle it on the down low. You're not on your own; loads of folks are juggling work and incontinence every single day.
By following the tips we've shared, like picking the right incontinence products, knowing what sets off your incontinence, and organising your day smartly, you can reduce how much incontinence affects your job.
And for prices lower than supermarket costs - even for the most premium brands like Drylife - Incontinence Shop is the best choice for those looking for incontinence products in bulk, such as carers of nursing home patients.
What's more, if you subscribe to your incontinence product of choice, you can enjoy 10% off every order and convenient doorstep delivery.
