When you're sick, the best thing to do is sleep, stay hydrated, and focus on getting better. However, many people do not have the opportunity to take the time to heal; freelancers do not always have financial coverage for days off work, while other workers or students risk not keeping up with their homework or various tasks during sick days. On average, it appears that up to 90% of workers go to work even if they are ill. If you absolutely have to get a job done while sick, you can relieve symptoms and divide the tasks into simpler tasks to stay efficient.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Maintain Productivity During Illness
Step 1. Consider calling your employer to let them know that you are not showing up due to illness
It is possible that you are too sick to go to work and that you have to stay at home. By staying at home, you can avoid worsening your health and infecting others. This also allows you to speed up the healing process, so that you can be more productive once you get back to work. Consider carefully whether it is best for you to take time off work and focus on healing.
- If you have a high fever (more than 38 ° C) or plaques in your throat, you need to see your doctor; you should also contact them if you have difficulty keeping hydrated or if your symptoms do not improve after a few days.
- Many workers cannot avoid going to work due to illness. If this also applies to you, you need to find ways to heal yourself even if you work.
Step 2. Ask if you can work from home on sick day
It could be a way to get your duties done without going to the office. This is a great option for both employees (who can focus a little more on healing) and employers (who don't have to fear the spread of the disease). Talk to your manager to see if this is a feasible solution.
In order to do this kind of work, you need a secure computer and a fast internet connection, as well as a reliable phone
Step 3. Stay calm
The fact that you are expected to work while you are sick can be stressful; however, anxiety weakens the immune system and may prolong the healing period. Take a few deep breaths and tell yourself that everything is fine. Even when you are sick you can still be productive and heal; it may not be the ideal situation, but you will be able to overcome this disease.
Step 4. Plan your work if you start to feel unwell
Sometimes, a day or two before the outbreak of the disease, the body sends some warning signal; you may perhaps feel a little faint, sore, or sleepy. When you notice that a cold or some other ailment is about to occur, organize the various tasks so that you do not lose productivity during the illness. Try to carry out as many projects as possible and consider taking some home, to avoid having to go to the office.
Step 5. Break down the more demanding tasks into smaller ones
Illness makes concentration more difficult and can reduce strength. To be able to complete your assignments, you need to take a different approach, breaking them down into a series of smaller, more manageable tasks. A particularly effective technique when you are sick is the one called the tomato, which consists of working for short phases of 25 minutes and then taking a break.
For example, instead of preparing an entire presentation, take breaks to rest: take short naps or have a cup of tea
Step 6. Work on less demanding projects
This allows you to save yourself trivial mistakes in the most important tasks. Consider carefully whether you really need to do an important and vital job when you feel bad. Catch up with less crucial jobs as much as possible.
- For example, the day you're sick can be the perfect opportunity to do those boring chores that don't require mental effort, like cleaning your inbox, filing documents, or planning next month's chores. You should avoid tasks that involve high concentration, such as writing a particularly important research report.
- It is also a good idea to work on the initial drafts of projects and documents, rather than on the final elaboration; when you feel better, you can reread the proofs. This approach reduces the risk of making serious mistakes in the final version of the paper.
Step 7. Set priorities carefully
Sick workers are only able to be 60% more productive than normal. This means that you must be very careful about the jobs that need to be completed during the illness. Review the deadlines and schedule to prioritize the various tasks you need to complete on sick day.
Step 8. Maintain reasonable expectations
You need to be aware early on that you will not be able to be as productive as usual during illness. Be understanding with yourself and resist the temptation to try too hard. If you ask too much of your body during your illness, your recovery is prolonged or you feel even worse. Commit to work if you have to, but give your body time to relax and heal.
Step 9. Consider postponing some meetings and engagements
Sometimes, it is not possible to choose which work needs to be done, but at other times it is possible to rearrange the various programs. When you are sick, think about putting off some appointments until you feel better so they are more productive. Ask if it is possible to postpone those meetings that are not that urgent or that require participation at the highest level.
Step 10. Take breaks often
Sick people need to rest more often than usual and also need to stay well hydrated. Give yourself plenty of time to rest between tasks. Go to the water dispenser, go to the nearest coffee shop, have a tea or just rest your eyes for a few minutes when you are at your desk. You are more productive if you don't try too hard and work too quickly.
Step 11. Get help
Keep in touch with neighbors, friends, family and colleagues if you have to work during illness; perhaps they can help you with other household chores, make soup for you, or they can help you with writing an important document. Everyone gets sick sometimes, your loved ones and colleagues will therefore be sympathetic to you and will be able to understand your situation.
If coworkers help you with your duties, be sure to show gratitude and do the favor when they are sick as well
Step 12. Drink three times more water than coffee
It is important to stay hydrated during illness; However, sometimes you may need caffeine to get through the work day if you are late with your homework. Feel free to indulge in a few cups of coffee every now and then in these somewhat delicate moments, but be sure to also drink water; you should take three times more than coffee to ensure proper hydration.
Step 13. Take a nap
If you are working at home, give yourself a short sleep from time to time; consider it as a reward for accomplishing an important task. Napping is an incentive to accomplish more tasks while helping the body fight disease.
Step 14. Make a plan for returning to work
If you are working from home or only work half a day when you are sick, take a few minutes to organize full-time work. Make a list of the most important tasks you have done and start thinking about how you will be able to complete them. Make a reasonable schedule to make sure you make up for what you lost during your illness.
Step 15. Reward yourself
Use rewards to reach goals every day. Pamper yourself with tasty food, hot drinks, naps or watching your favorite movie while recovering. Feel proud to have completed so many jobs, despite being sick.
Step 16. Consider alternative forms of productivity
Maybe you are too sick to be able to do your work or school homework; your mind may be too clouded or you may not even be able to get out of the house. If you feel so bad that you can't focus on work, try to be productive in other ways. Maybe it is time to dedicate yourself to sleep, so that you can perform better when you get back to the office. You can clean the house or prepare a few meals to put in the freezer, so that you can spend more time on work during the month. Think of other ways to be more efficient, even if you feel so bad that you can't focus on work.
Part 2 of 3: Managing the Symptoms
Step 1. Take care of yourself
If you want to be more productive at work, you need to be less uncompromising with yourself; try to feel as good as possible before you go back to work. Relieving symptoms probably won't speed up the recovery process, but it makes you feel much better, while also allowing you to get on with the day's chores.
Step 2. Purchase the necessary
Many of the remedies for relieving symptoms involve taking specific medications, foods and drinks. You should arrange the trip to the store or pharmacy and get the necessary supplies if you don't have them.
Consider asking a friend or family member to take these products for you if you feel bad enough that you can't get out of the house
Step 3. Stay hydrated
One of the most important aspects of healing and feeling better is staying sufficiently hydrated. Always keep a bottle of water with you; It is also a good idea to always have a good supply of hot herbal teas nearby: they not only keep you hydrated, but also help to soothe a sore throat.
Avoid alcohol while you are sick, as it can dehydrate you and slow down the healing process
Step 4. Use a nasal spray
A saline solution can help if you suffer from rhinorrhea, sinus headaches, or seasonal allergies, as it helps the body flush out mucus and allergens, helping you clear your mind. it can also soothe the discomfort due to dryness and nasal irritation during a cold.
When applying it, make sure you have a tissue or Kleenex on hand, as you will need to blow your nose right after the spray treatment
Step 5. Suck on some ice cubes
They help numb and relieve sore throats; They are also a great way to stay hydrated if your throat is sore enough to stop you from swallowing.
Step 6. Buy over-the-counter medications
Many symptoms of the most common diseases can be managed with over-the-counter medicines; for example, cough syrups and drops, decongestants, pain relievers, and antiemetics can be purchased without a prescription.
Do not combine the different drugs, to avoid the risk of adverse reactions. Make sure you read the directions carefully, take only the recommended dosage and pay attention to allergic reactions. Over-the-counter medications can also have side effects - don't take them like candy
Step 7. Don't expose yourself to irritants, such as smoking
Many diseases are aggravated by environmental irritants, such as smoke or chemicals. Try to stay away from these products if you can. For example, do not go to the coffee break room if it is used by smokers to light their cigarettes. Keep your surroundings clean or controlled.
Step 8. Use the humidifier
The humidifier or vaporizer can help a sick person breathe normally and clear the nose of obstructions. Breathing in moist air also helps lubricate the mucous membranes, allowing the body to fight the infection more effectively. Turn it on overnight or, if possible, put it on your desk at work to help you breathe and feel better.
Step 9. Eat healthy, comforting foods
Sometimes, during an illness, you feel less hungry than usual; however, the immune system needs nutrients to get more energy and be able to fight the infection. Choose nutritious and invigorating foods, such as broths and soups, which also help keep you hydrated, a key detail during illness.
Step 10. Take a hot shower
Before starting work again, it is important to take a hot shower with a lot of steam to help relieve discomfort and cramps, as well as free the head from the sense of heaviness. This is especially important if you are dealing with an illness due to a cold, flu virus, sinusitis or seasonal allergies.
Step 11. Apply compresses to the skin
When you are sick, you may feel red in the face or experience chills. A hot or cold pack can help rebalance your body temperature and make you feel as usual. It can also help relieve muscle aches and discomfort that come with certain diseases, such as the flu.
Step 12. See your doctor if you don't start feeling better after a week
The fact that there are so many ways to relieve symptoms is a great thing; however, relieving discomfort is not the same as curing the disease or healing completely. In many cases, medications or methods to relieve discomfort do not speed up recovery times. If the disease does not go away after a few days, you should see your doctor to make sure that no prescription drugs are needed to overcome the disease altogether.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing the Spread of the Disease
Step 1. Avoid contact with colleagues if possible
If you can't avoid going to school or the office, do your best not to spread the disease. Stay away from others to expose them as little as possible to pathogens. Teleworking is another great option to be able to work without infecting colleagues.
Step 2. Wash your hands often
When you are sick, it is a good idea to wash them more often than usual. Use warm soapy water, scrubbing them for at least 15 seconds, to make sure you clean them thoroughly. This prevents the risk of spreading germs in the office, for example when you touch the doorknob or the computer keyboard.
Step 3. Cover your mouth
If you need to cough or sneeze, use your sleeve or elbow to cover it. sneezing and coughing easily spread infection, and you should avoid exposing co-workers. By covering your mouth with your hand, you can still spread germs when you touch the door, computer or other objects in the office; the elbow is much more secure.
Step 4. Disinfect the surfaces
When you are sick, use a cloth and disinfectant spray to clean the surfaces you share with other people. Make sure you clean the handles on the door, drawers and refrigerator. You should disinfect any surfaces that you and your colleagues touch.
Step 5. Don't share items
Don't let co-workers touch your computer, coffee cup, stapler, and pens when you're sick. If they ask you to borrow these tools, let them know that you are not feeling very well; it is better for their health that they ask other healthier colleagues for them.
Step 6. Use disposable accessories during the contagious phase of the disease
Most of the time it is absolutely better to use reusable tools, both for the respect of the environment and for the wallet. However, a little more tolerance is allowed when one is sick and contagious. Get disposable cups and mugs for coffee and tea, disposable cutlery and paper plates. This way, once used you can throw them away and minimize coworkers' exposure to your infection.
Advice
- The best way to stay productive at work or school is to avoid getting sick. Get regular vaccines, inject every year, wash your hands often, and avoid touching your face to stay healthy.
- Employers should as far as possible avoid forcing employees to show up when they are sick, compromising the health of others. If you are in a managerial role, make sure that sick workers stay at home so that they are always healthy when they show up at the office.
Warnings
- Remember that going to school or the office may not be so counterproductive to your recovery, but you run the risk of passing the infection on to colleagues; keep this in mind when deciding whether to go to work or not.
- Don't endanger your health for work. If you don't stay hydrated, have difficulty breathing, have a high fever, or your symptoms don't improve after a few days, you need to see your doctor. Work doesn't deserve to compromise your well-being.
