I just came across an article that asked, "Should you keep writing while you're sick?"
Obviously, doing anything other than shutting yourself off in a dark room with 10 pounds of blankets when you are sick sounds like a nightmare. So if you can get away with not writing for a few days so you can focus on ... you know ... not dying, then that's great!
But, if you're a writer and editor (like I am at Edit This®) with a laundry list of projects to keep up with, giving up even one or two days of productivity isn't always in the cards.
Not only must you keep writing, but you need to churn out quality content everyone loves. The better question is, "How do you keep writing while you're sick?"
6 tips on how to keep writing while you're sick
1. Pace yourself
When I'm sick, I prefer pacing myself with shorter bursts of creativity rather than powering through 5-6 hours at a time. Take last week, for example. I wrote a blog for a roofer client shortly after I woke up one morning, took a breather for a few hours, then knocked out a press release and another blog later that evening before I went to bed. This tactic stretches out my workday, but it's better than feeling overwhelmed when you're sick.
2. Switch up your surroundings
Maybe writing from the home office is where you usually crank out work, but it's not a bad idea to work from the bed so you can stay under the covers while still getting some quality writing in. If you need some fresh air to feel better, write outside on the patio.
3. Keep everything you need close
Keep all your tissues, medications, a glass of water or cup of tea, paperwork, laptop, cell phone, notepads, power chords, etc. close by if you're sprawled out on the couch or cozy in bed. This gives you every reason to stay exactly where you're at and write.
4. Be OK with "slow and steady"
When you're feeling good, it's easy to work faster. When you're writing while you're sick, your ... brain ... moves ... slower. Mentally prepare yourself that a blog that typically only takes you an hour to write may take double or triple that time.
5. Delegate the workload
This is for those of you who have a team of writers at your disposal. If you're sick, it makes total sense to lean on them a bit more to keep projects moving smoothly.
6. Write standing up
I bought a Varidesk® not long ago, and I absolutely love it. It's great, regardless of whether I'm sick or feeling perfectly fine and just need to get those creative juices flowing.
I hope these tips on how to keep writing while you're sick were helpful. What has worked for you that wasn't mentioned here?
Naturally, if you're really sick and are forced to take enough medication to fill up a small medicine cabinet, it might be worth your while to avoid any activity – including writing that next masterpiece – and make it a true sick day.
At the end of the day, your clients will understand if you're sick. Not to mention, when you are feeling better, your mind will be clear enough to play a bit of catch-up.
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Thanks for reading!
*STEVE GAMEL is the President & Owner of Edit This, a writing and editing services company located in Denton, TX. Steve handles anything involving the written word. Give him a call today to help give your business a clear voice.