How To Survive The Plague When You Can't Call In Sick

I've struggled with headaches off and on for years. Just last week I had a migraine that lasted for three days. Anyone who has ever had a migraine knows they can, quite literally, take you down. By the third day with this migraine, on a scale of 1-10 it was a 12. I could barely force myself to sit up for more than five minutes, let alone think straight, or get any real work done.

Whether it's a migraine or the latest viral plague that's making you wish you could crawl into bed and stay there for the duration, when you run your own biz, there's no one to call in sick to, and no one to fill in for you, which means that while the best thing for you may be deep, prolonged sleep, that isn't always possible.  

For those times when it isn't possible, I've found it extremely helpful to recognize my patterns when a headache or illness hits, and to work around them. For example, I usually have an early warning system that lets me know that a headache or illness is creeping up on me. Rather than ignore the signs I take stock of the work that needs to be done in the coming week and I prioritize and knock out as much of the really critical work as I can. Then, if the headache or illness intensifies in the afternoon I can take a much-needed nap, or if it intensifies later in the week, I might even be able to take a day off.

The next time you feel something coming on:

1. Prioritize. Determine which work, or tasks, truly are critical, and which can be put off if necessary.

2. Make the most of the times when you're feeling best and when your energy is highest. This might be early in the morning after a good night's rest, or for an hour or two after the meds kick in. Use that time to knock out as much of the most critical work as you can.

3.  Take more frequent breaks if you need to and squeeze rest in wherever you can. Taking a break when you most need to can actually increase your ability to be productive.

4. Ask for help! I cannot emphasize this one enough. Why, oh why do we so often feel as though we have to be super-human and do it all ourselves no matter what?!

So, while taking the day (or days) off is undeniably the best course of action, that isn't always possible if there's work that simply must get done. For more tips on how to keep going, when as Tei of Rogue Ink put it, you feel like death, check out her post, Plauge-Ridden: Working When You Feel Like Death.

Photo originally uploaded by OpenDemocracy
 

Comments

[Louise BJ]

Lisa

Having woken up yet again with my head pounding - you could be writing just to me! As business owners we don't want to admit to any kind of weakness but that can work against us. Having tried to 'work through it' many times, I now know that just prolongs the problem.

I like your suggestions and will put them into practice straight away!

[Lisa Wilder]

Hi, Louise!

You have my empathy. I can SO relate.

Yes, not only does "working through it" often prolong the problem, but it's likely to have a negative impact on your productivity. Sometimes rest is the best solution and the one most likely to help you get back to a place where you can function more productively.

I've found it also helps, when I have a variety of things that need to get done, to do something like wash dishes in those moments when I just can't think clearly. Then, when I'm feeling a bit better and more able to focus, to tackle the tasks like writing that actually require my brain to be functioning.

I hope the pounding headache has receded and that you're feeling better, or will very soon.

Warmly,
Lisa