How My Work Technology Helps My IBS

I have a love-hate relationship with technology. I love the ways that different types of technology can enhance life and makes things easier. Yet at the same time I hate how technology can become so absorbing that you can often get through a day without doing anything substantial that didn’t involve looking at a screen.

Every now and again I wish that my life involved less tech, but as a freelance nutrition consultant and writer, technology is an essential part of my life. And the fact is that the online technology that lets me do this work has, for the most part, made managing my IBS easier.

The ways that work technology helps my IBS

I work from a home office, mostly standing (or sitting) in front of a computer, often connected to the internet. Occasionally I work from other places, but normally it’s at home on my own. This set up benefits my IBS in a number of ways:

• When my IBS is triggered, I can juggle my work around my need to soothe my symptoms or run to the toilet.
• If I’m experiencing symptoms, it affects no one but me and I don’t have to ask for permission to take a break, reschedule meetings or leave early.
• I don’t need to worry about any sneaky gas intruding on other people (yes, I really love that bit).
• I don’t get as anxious about my IBS anymore because knowing I can work through it in my own way means that’s there’s much less to worry about.

The ways that work technology hinders my IBS

While there are lots of benefits for my IBS from working at home, running an online business does create some downsides that can impact my IBS. These are:

• Using social media for work means that I always feel ‘switched on’, increasing my stress levels and making it easier for other things to trigger my IBS.
• The isolated environment limits genuine social interactions that let me vent and release emotions, which can also increase my stress.
• Being used to the conditions in my own office means that I can become more anxious about my IBS when I’m working away from home and out of my ‘safe space’.

On balance…

I don’t want to sound like I’m complaining about technology though because, when all things are considered, my work tech does help my IBS. Working from home means I can work even when I have a flare up, letting me do that work on my own time and without worrying about my symptoms embarrassing me or affecting anyone else.

I’ve also learned that the negatives can be managed with two key steps. First, I need to make time to step away from the computer and social media, and to prevent the endless buzzing of notifications that increase my stress. Second, I need to be careful not to become too isolated, so that I have people to talk to and so that I don’t become afraid of my IBS when I do need to work around other people in other places.