Career and Kids

How to survive a sick day when you have to go to work

by mike on October 17th, 2006

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?

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