For the second time (that I know of) since the start of the pandemic, I came down with COVID.
Last time, you hardly would’ve known I was sick. At the first sign of a runny nose, my anxiety pushed me to run out at 11 o’clock at night and purchase a rapid-test. But otherwise, I wouldn’t’ve known either. A little congestion, a bit of a headache, and that was all. I beta read—with lots of comments—an entire book during those two weeks, and wrote four thousand words for a just-for-fun project.
So when I caught COVID-19 again recently, I figured it would be much the same. A little congestion, a little headache, and a whole lot of work done. I have two books due soon. Now is the perfect time for me to write three thousand words a day (a lot for me, a slower writer) and get ahead of the game! Or at least catch up to where I should be.
That was not the case. I didn’t deal with physical symptoms so much this time. It affected my mind so much more. I wasn’t experiencing brain fog; I was feeling utterly without motivation. Depressed, even. Definitely anxious. Burned out, even though I wasn’t doing much of anything other than playing Stardew Valley because my brain wouldn’t let me do anything else. Guilty, somehow, even though everyone around me was telling me I should take the time to rest, and that I deserved a little Stardew Valley time anyway.
I should be making the most of this time I’m forced to be absent from my day job, I thought, shouldn’t I?
This is the lesson I should’ve learned the first time around: don’t start planning work days when you learn you’re sick—plan how you’ll take care of yourself.
Yes, I have deadlines breathing down my neck. That was past Megan’s mistake—pushing them so close together during what was already going to be a busy time in my life.
I can’t change the past, just like I can’t change the fact that I got sick. What I can do is slow down, reach out, and do everything I can to make sure I heal.
I will be the first to say that this is extremely hard to when you’re in the thick of being sick. Even when your partner or whoever you look to for support is telling you that the best thing you can do is rest, it is hard not to brush off their concerns and try to “power through” because it’s “not that bad,” or because you “should” get such-and-such done.
That’s why it’s so important to plan for being sick now, when you’re healthy and able, whether you contract COVID-19 or the common cold.
Pack Your Writer’s Sick Day Kit
No cans of soup or painkillers on this list! These items have been curated specifically for those of us with ink-stained hearts.
1. “Hey, I’m Sick” Email Templates
Is there anything less fun than trying to find the polite, professional words you need for an email when you’re barely awake? I don’t think so.
By cultivating a stash of email templates—store them in your drafts for easy copying and pasting, or store them in a Google Doc or Google Keep note you can access from any device—you won’t have to struggle with how to break the news to clients or your editor that the work they’re waiting on from you won’t be coming on time.
(In fact, you may want to write up email templates for more than this one occasion. They come in handy!)
2. A Book You’ve Read Ten Thousand Times
You could choose a book you’re dying to read to stash away for a sick day, but why would you? When you’re sick, you may not be in the right state of mind to absorb the words on the page, and you likely won’t get the same enjoyment out of the book that you would otherwise.
A comfort read, on the other hand, might be just what the doctor ordered. (Figuratively speaking, of course—if you’re sick, do go to a doctor!) You can skim and still know what happens in the story, and you’ll get all the same warm and fuzzy feelings you get whenever you pick up the book.
If you haven’t already, spring for the audiobook, or find out where you can stream the movie adaptation. That way, if reading is making you feel nauseated, you’ll still be able to enjoy the story.
3. Materials to Work on Your Hobby (If You Feel Like It)
In one of our most recent blog posts, “Dear Writer: Get a New Hobby,” we outlined why writers should pick up an activity untethered to the written word, as well as listed a few ideas to get you started. If you think that advice is sound, it would pay to make sure you are stocked with whatever you might need for your hobby.
Of course, if you are feeling too sick to get out of bed, do rest! Your hobbies will patiently wait for you to be back to full health.
4. A Notebook and a Favorite Pen
Now, I know what you’re thinking. Isn’t the whole point of this post supposed to be that it’s okay to take the time off and not write when you’re sick? It’s right there in the title!
Well, yes, but that doesn’t mean writing has ceased to be fun for you. That’s why I suggest going analog—or, if that’s not possible for you, choosing a different app that you don’t use for your “serious” projects you’re trying to complete. Using a different medium than you normally would will let you break away from the “shoulds” and “musts” surrounding your writing life. This isn’t meant to be used for work! This is play, and only if inspiration strikes and you want to! There’s a reason why it’s the last on the list!
