Hello, friends! What do you do when you feel HORRIBLE, but still have to work? Well, this was not the topic that I planned to write about today. However, since I’m experiencing this right now, I thought I’d share. As I write this, I’m sitting in my home office at 8:26 AM on a Monday morning. I’ve been up since 5:45 AM and working since 6.
Fortunately, I have a break at 10 AM this morning so I’ll have a little time to rest before this afternoon. Being sick is always hard, but it can feel even worse at the start of a new work week.
Here are some of the tips that I’m using today to help me get through when working while sick:
Break Up the Day
If I’m feeling sick in the morning, I start by focusing on just getting through the morning. I don’t even think about the rest of the day. Oftentimes, I feel slightly better in the afternoon. Or, maybe it’s just knowing that I’ve already make it through the morning, gives me the extra boost to push through the day.
If you have meetings or projects to work on in the afternoon, let it go for now. If it’s 8 AM in the morning, just think about what needs to be done before lunch. Then, once you hit lunch, then you can start thinking about the afternoon.
What it comes down to is slow and steady. Take things one step at a time. And this leads to my next tip.
Take the Day 30 Minutes At A Time
Similar to the last point, try approaching your day 30 minutes at a time. This is also a tip that I use if I’m just having a bad day or don’t feel like working. Just think about the next 30 minutes and what you need to finish in that span of time. Then, once you make it through 30 minutes, focus on the next 30 minutes.
When we have a full day in front of us it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, which is why this method is so effective. We can’t always imagine how we can get through the next 8 or 10 hours but making it through 30 minutes usually seems manageable.
Drink Liquids
Think might seem like a no brainer, but it’s always a good reminder. When I’m sick I love a warm beverage, in fact, I’m finishing up a cup of coffee right now and am working on my second mug of hot water. Whether you’re sick or not, it’s important to make this a habit.
You’d be surprised how many people are dehydrated on a regular basis. If you don’t think you’re drinking enough, start now!
Try Working a Half Day
If you’re really sick and just miserable but really need to work, try taking a half day. Either allow yourself to sleep in and go in after lunch or try powering through the morning and then taking the afternoon off to rest and re-fuel. This can be a great compromise for those really tough days!
This way you can still get some of your work done but you have less pressure to make it through a full 8 hour workday.
Simplify Your Day
Go easy on yourself. Don’t go overboard and carry the same expectations that you would have if you were feeling 100%. Think about the must do’s and key tasks for the day. Only focus on the most important items. Then, if you work your way through those and still can do more, great! If not, don’t beat yourself up.
It’s easy to look at things as all or nothing. I used to find myself viewing a sick day as either a full day spent in bed or going to work and knocking 100% of the items on my to do list. These days, I strive for somewhere in the middle. I try to get a few things knocked off but with some breaks added in when needed.
Have Something to Look Forward to
This is a tactic that I use both when I’m sick and not sick. In fact, I use it almost everyday. Here are a few examples:
- Watch a good show or movie
- Get your favorite takeout food
- Take a long bath or hot shower
- Read a novel on the couch with a warm blanket
- Light a yummy smelling candle and journal
For me, I’m looking forward to opening the Stitch Fix package that just got dropped off at my house a few minutes ago! Yeah.
Take a Relaxing Lunch Break
Lunch breaks are a great way to break up your day. And, if your lunch break falls right at the middle of the day, congratulations! You’re halfway done! Rather than half-heatedly checking emails or puttering around, try using this time to really relax.
Try eating a relaxing lunch, enjoy a good show (if you can) or listen to some relaxing music.
To Wrap Up:
Just to give you an update, I made it to my 10 AM break and now it’s 12:25 PM. I just had lunch and am ready to head back to work for the afternoon. I hope that this post was encouraging and that you feel better soon even when working while sick!
You’ve got this!
