4 Sick-Day Solutions for Every Busy Boss

Sick days are bound to happen. I get them at least 3-4 times per year. With three kids and lots of travel, my immune system does pretty well. Still, some days you literally can’t get out of bed. And when you run a company, that can feel like a disaster.

[DISCLAIMER: Maren Hogan is not sick today (don’t worry!) This was originally posted on Maren’s LinkedIn]

The issue:

It’s impossible to get rest because you’re tossing and turning thinking about what isn’t getting accomplished.

The solution:

Send a quick email to the other stakeholders in the project telling them you need 24 hours, then give yourself 30 minutes to complete as much as you can (even though you’ve presumably bought yourself a window of grace) and go to sleep.

The issue:

You can’t reschedule your daily retinue of calls because then next week’s schedule will be untenable.

The solution:

Skip the calls. Create an autoresponder or ask your assistant to send the call agenda and ask the pertinent questions and request that the parties answer via email. One email round robin can create a much easier workflow than a phone call you’ll barely remember in your fevered state anyway.

The issue:

Your brain is so fogged up you can’t even spell the word strategy.

The solution:

Do something that isn’t strategy. Whether it’s uploading those CSVs you’ve been avoiding or some easy but repetitive form completion, there are tasks that you can do with your IQ lowered for a few days.

The issue:

You are exhausted and can’t think through any more work.

The solution:

Take your medicine and go to sleep. You aren’t a superhuman and no one expects you to be. So if you’re going to take a sick day, take one! Eat chicken noodle soup, binge-watch Lie To Me, take a bunch of Zinc and Vitamin C so you can get better. Your team and your clients will thank you when you’re back in action.

photo credit: bookgrl via photopin cc

Maren Hogan

Maren Hogan is CEO of Red Branch and general Bad@$$

Maren Hogan is a seasoned marketer and community builder in the HR and Recruiting industry. Maren started Red Branch Media and, before she hired all the smiling faces you see below, she ran it on her own. In marketing for over 15 years, she has deep experience in strategic campaigns and a long-term, results-based operational approach.