If one ‘good’ thing has come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is that people have been staying at home when they feel ill, rather than dragging their sick selves into the office. However, with working from home becoming more and more prevalent, and looking like it is going to be sticking around for the foreseeable future, more and more people will be logging in and working from home while feeling less than perfect. Of course, in an ideal world, we would all stay in bed and rest, but we are realistic enough to know that this is not always possible, particularly if you work for yourself.

In this blog post, we will look at how to manage your work when you are feeling ill:

Dress comfortably:

One of the benefits of working from home is that, unless you are forced to participate in a video call, you can get away with wearing whatever you want. Usually, to be productive and get in the right mindset for a working day, we would advise you to get up and get dressed into something work appropriate. However, if you are ill, take advantage. If a hoodie and sweats are comfortable and keep you at the right temperature, then wear them. If you want to stay in your PJs, stay in them. If you do have to attend a video call, throw a smart jumper or shirt on for the call – no one will notice if you are wearing your cat print PJ bottoms!

Eat well and stay hydrated:

While it can be tempting to load up on carbs or just eat junk food when you are unwell, it is even more important than ever to eat well, if you can manage it. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies for that vitamin C boost and do not forget the good old chicken soup – always a winner when you are sick! Have a look here to find out how to make chicken broth. Try to avoid drinking too much coffee, and stick to water to keep you hydrated and fresh fruit juice for extra vitamins.

Try to rearrange or delegate as much as possible:

Make every effort to postpone any meetings that you know you will not be able to attend over the next few days. Make sure that everyone is aware of the changes and reschedule things accordingly. You can also ask if someone can record the online meeting or take notes so that you can review them afterwards.

Look at breaking up your workday:

Breaking down your job into smaller, manageable components will help you as you begin to recover.  When you are sick, you will not be able to complete things as quickly as normal, so this is a great method to avoid a productivity slump. If you are supposed to work for eight hours, see if you can do four hours and then have a nap before completing the second half of the work. The last thing you need to do is overdo it and end up back where you started, or worse.

Prioritize important tasks:

A sick worker’s output is only about 60% of what it would be under normal circumstances. As a result, you will need to plan out exactly what tasks you will be able to complete while sick. Prioritize the things that must be performed during your sick day by examining your deadlines and schedule.

Be reasonable with your expectations:

Acknowledge that you will not be able to work as hard as usual when you are sick. Do not push yourself too hard and do not let yourself get exhausted. If you go overboard, you could put off your recovery or make yourself sicker. If you need to get things done, do so, but do not forget to take a break.

Reward yourself for small achievements:

Each day, give yourself a reward for accomplishing your goals. Sick days are the perfect time to indulge in some of your favorite comfort foods, hot beverages, naps, or your favorite movie. You should be proud of yourself for managing to get so much done despite your illness.

The important thing to remember is that if you feel too ill to work, you need to stop and rest. While it may be inconvenient, it will be even more so if you run yourself into the ground. Stop, rest, and you will recover and be back before you know it!

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