How to survive a sick day when you have to go to work
Suffering a cold at the office is just about the worst. About the only thing worse is when you have to stay home alone with the kids and you are sick and the kids are not. I have had a cold for the last couple days and have been stuck in the office. I do not feel like eating, breathing, or moving in general. And, I definitely do not feel like thinking. The Halloween deadline looms, though, so I have to crack down and get working.
Here are some things I do to help get through these kind of days.
- Bring a water bottle to work and drink a ton of water. I try to cut back or entirely get rid of the pop and stick with water. The water just tastes better.
- Get up and walk frequently. Sitting around in a chair for hours on end can really get to be a drag when your sinuses are not draining properly. Frequent little walks will help keep the mucus moving around a little bit and make breathing easier. It will also help keep you awake when you start nodding off every few minutes.
- Microtasks. I like to break things into little tiny subprojects whenever possible. When I am sick, it is extremely beneficial to break tasks into projects you can do in 15-30 minutes. Rather than drowning just trying to survive the day, you will feel a little refreshed with every little project you complete and be able to refocus on the next project.
- Bring cold medicine. I am a big fan of generic DayQuil. It works well for me. Take whatever works for you. Just remember to bring it and to stay on schedule with your dosage.
- Crackers. If there is any chance of your stomache heading south, you will want some crackers nearby. Ritz work well for me. I have had days where I am recovering from a cold and eat nearly a whole box because I am starving but still do not trust my stomach.
- Keep a low profile. First off, you do not want to get other people sick. Secondly, you will probably be crankier than usual and not much fun to be around. Protect yourself from saying something you might regret by bunkering down and avoiding chatting.
It looks like I will still be sick for a day or two. What secret survival methods do you use when you have to go to work when you are sick?
Sorry to hear you are not feeling 100%. Someone I used to work with had a saying about a cold. It was “A cold takes three days coming, three days at its worse, and three days to go away.” I have often stopped and figured out which day I thought I might be on….but mine usually turn into sinus infections and go on till I go to the doctor. Maybe you cold figure where you are on the spectrum, usually by the time you think to figure it out you are usually into the middle of the second phase and things seem better knowing you will get better soon. Good Luck
So sorry to hear you are down and out. Just keep washing your hands and don’t touch anything that someone else has touched iwthout wiping it down first. No, I am not a germaphobic. But your immune system is already down and I’m pretty sure you aren’t hte only one in the office to carry the bug around on your shoulders. No sence in spreading the wealth.
Praying for you to feel better.
Oh no! I hope you get better soon. I’m dreading the day when I’m sick but still have to take care of the boy, with no one to pass him off to.
Fizzy vitamin C (Like Emergen-C) works wonders.
I hate being sick and having to work. A few weeks ago I had a stomach virus. I was only able to stay out for one day because I could not get anyone to cover for me. My back hurt so bad that I could hardly move. Needless to say, it was really hard to take care of preschoolers with the way I felt. If you have to go in when you’re sick, then I would recommend taking lots of pain reliever with you. It can certainly help mask how badly your body really feels.