Yes, I said it – every injured worker needs a vacation; just like their coworkers, bosses, and friends. Injured workers deserve a break from medical appointments, physical therapy, disputes over medication, and from the worry and stress that comes after an injury or illness. Injured workers need time away from all of this stress to figure out exactly how they are going to move forward.
Every injured worker that Meggesto, Crossett & Valerino, LLP represents wonders “Will I get better? Will I be able to return to my old job? What happens if I can’t go back to the only work I know how to do?”
Injured workers also wonder “When will I be paid? Will my check arrive regularly so I can pay my bills? What happens if I do not receive my check? Why is the amount of my check increasing or decreasing?”
These are all fair questions and concerns that we, as attorneys, strive to answer for our clients every day. We often find that injured workers get caught up in the immediate, short-term battles (such as attending medical appointments and comprehending the amount of their benefits), and could really use a break from it all.
When the attorneys and staff at Meggesto, Crossett & Valerino, LLP talk to our clients and try to answer these questions, we stress the importance of being in control of their situation. We consistently remind our clients that they are the “masters of their own destiny”. In doing this, we recommend courses of action and strategies that will maximize benefits in the short run, while keeping in mind that we must protect both injured workers and their families in the long run.
When you change your daily routine by waking up in a different place, and where the only decision you have to make is whether to go swimming or fishing, you give your mind a chance to clear itself. Perhaps even daydreaming while enjoying the sun, or an afternoon spent outside, would help put your mind at ease. You might find that, when you least expect it, a thought or answer might pop into to your head that you were too busy or anxious to realize before.
Now, I know it is not easy; you may not have the money to enjoy a vacation nor the freedom to delay medical procedures or treatments. But, we often strongly recommend clearing a week or two in your schedule to just get away, even if only to a public park, to clear your head and relieve the stress every injured worker experiences.
Before summer turns to fall, take my advice and find some time to get away. Who knows – maybe you will have a flash of inspiration. Even if you do not, simple acts such as shutting the television off, moving your medical appointments, or simply having a change of scenery, can be an easy but important step on the path to becoming the “master of your own destiny.”