Finding the best jobs for people with fibromyalgia can be hard. They need to be low-stress, have minimal physical activity, and also require some flexibility. Choosing a fibromyalgia-friendly job can be a huge help in managing symptoms.
Fibromyalgia can be a debilitating chronic illness and can leave you disabled. For some, this means work isn’t possible but for others, it can just mean accommodations need to be made.
I have fibromyalgia and for me, I couldn’t work a traditional job but working from home with accommodations works for me. The key for many people with fibromyalgia is finding jobs that allow for flexibility and minimal stress.
In this post, we are going to talk about what are the best jobs for people with fibromyalgia and also some about the accommodations you can make when you have fibromyalgia.
What is Fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain along with other symptoms like fatigue, sleep, memory, mood issues, and many other symptoms depending on the person.
The cause of fibromyalgia is unknown but brain imaging studies and other research has shown has evidence of altered signaling in neural pathways that transmit and receive pain signals in people with fibromyalgia. [source]
What to look for and what to avoid in a job with Fibromyalgia
While everyone with fibromyalgia is different there are some things that generally are advised for people with the disorder to help avoid flares. One of the main things is reducing stress.
We can’t always avoid big periods of stress like injuries, grief, or big life changes but we can do things to help reduce stress. Other things that can trigger flares in people with fibromyalgia. [source]
- lack of sleep
- exhaustion
- temperature or weather changes
- diet changes
- hormonal imbalances
- And of course any forms of stress in your life, especially chronic stress, like a job that isn’t working for you.
That’s why finding a job that helps you avoid stress and get rest is so important. Some of the things you can look for in a new job include-
- Low-stress environment
- Low to no physical exertion is required
- Setting your own schedule
- Regular work breaks allowed
- The ability to move around to prevent pain
- Work-from-home allowed
Not everyone will need all of these things but they are things you will likely find helpful if you have fibromyalgia.
The Best Jobs for People with Fibromyalgia
When we consider all of the things that can help people with fibromyalgia be able to work without making symptoms worse there are several jobs that you can consider.
These are the top 10 jobs for people with fibromyalgia-
- Blogger
- Virtual Assistant
- Freelance Writer
- Bookkeeping
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Customer Service Representative
- Freelance Graphic Designer
- Freelance Web Developer
- Data Entry Specialist
- Pet Sitter
Now let’s go a bit deeper into why these jobs can be good options for people with fibromyalgia to help you decide if they could work for you. Remember we are each very different so they may not all be the best options for you.
Blogger
You won’t likely be surprised by this one being on the list. As I said, I have fibromyalgia and this has been my career of choice. You are able to create your own schedule, and work where you want to (I sit in a recliner, often with a heating pad), you can take days off when needed, and there is little or no physical activity needed.
For more information read How to Start a Blog.
Virtual Assistant
Virtual assistants can do a wide range of tasks so you can find the ones that you can do and that aren’t high-stress. Generally, you can set your own hours, work from home, and avoid physical activity.
Freelance Writer
If you like writing but don’t want the added work of starting a blog, freelance writing could be for you. Freelance writers are needed for all kinds of topics. This is another job where you make most of the rules so you can make it work for you. One thing to be mindful of is taking on jobs that have very strict deadlines, which could add to the stress.
Bookkeeping
If you are good at math bookkeeping can be a great job. You can often find jobs that allow you to work from home, at least most of the time. Of course, avoid this if math is something that stresses you out but if not it checks a lot of the other boxes.
Medical Transcriptionist
Doctors and healthcare workers need their voice recordings transcribed into written reports and that’s where you come in. You can work for a hospital or doctor’s office or even be self-employed. If you aren’t doing it self-employed you will want to make sure flexibility is allowed to make this a good option.
Customer Service Representative
This one is not going to be for everyone. Many people would find this job stressful so this is only an option if you are sure this kind of work isn’t stressful for you. It can offer flexibility though and you can often work from home.
Freelance Graphic Designer
If you are good at graphic design you can work for yourself and make it a very flexible job. You can also pair this with freelance writing or even being a virtual assistant.
Freelance Web Developer
If you like developing sites but don’t want to run them you can be a freelance web developer. There are many options other including creating websites for small businesses or even bloggers or helping keep up with a website.
Data Entry Specialist
A data entry specialist, also known as data entry operator or clerk, is a great option for someone that needs a job that doesn’t require experience, can be done from home, and can include flexibility.
Pet Sitter
This one can involve physical activity so you will need to be careful with it. You can choose to watch low-energy animals to help with this and consider keeping them in your home to make it easier. Some people also just need quick visits to check on their animals like cats, hamsters, birds, etc… You may need to play with them a bit, give them food, change litter, and things like that but you won’t need to take them on walks like you will with dogs. This can also be rewarding and help with stress.
Once you have a job be sure to remember to set up a disability-friendly home office or workspace. This will help you reduce your symptoms and be more productive.
And don’t be afraid to ask for accommodations in your job. Often these accommodations are required by the ADA and other laws in countries outside of the US. If the right accommodations can’t be made it may be time to try something else.
Finding Fibromyalgia-Friendly Jobs
With a lot of these jobs, you can freelance on your own and be your own boss, this can be a good situation for many but others may want to have a full or part-time job instead. FlexJobs is a great place to look for work-from-home jobs.
You can find listings for many of the jobs listed in this post and others that may also work well for you and allow you to still take better care of your health.
More Helpful Resources
Don’t stop with this article if you are wanting help working while dealing with Fibromyalgia. These articles may also be helpful.
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