Working when you’re sick is the pits.
Don’t I know it.
I came back from my vacation to New York with a big old chest cold, runny nose, and the body aches.
But taking time off when you’re just back from vacation isn’t exactly an option.
In fact, as an entrepreneur, you might find it hard to ever take time off.
Unfortunately, Mr. Yuck Virus doesn’t care.
I’m pretty sure he actually enjoys visiting at the most inopportune times…like right when you have a big project due…or right before an event your putting on…or right when you’ve taken on a big new client.
(Side Note: For my fellow 80s children, Mr. Yuck Virus is a first cousin to Yuck Mouth I think – the star of this PSA that’s emblazoned on your brain if you watched Saturday morning cartoons in like 1985 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWdNGap4id4 It’s amazing they don’t play these anymore, right?! 😐 )
Anyway, with fall upon us in the Northern hemisphere, it’s likely you’ll find yourself feeling like a giant pile of rotting garbage sometime in the next 6 months and yet still having to drag your sorry carcass out of bed…
…like me the last two mornings.
Here’s what’s helped me get going. I hope it helps you, too!
- Release all notions of looking (and smelling) like a normal human being who understands proper hygiene.
Even though we work from home, I’m one of those people who gets ready everyday like I’m going into the office. I just feel better…
…and if end up having to jump on a video conference call or run an errand, I feel safe knowing I won’t scare small children or get mistaken for Medusa.
Not today though.
Today I mustered just enough energy to scrub my teeth and wash my face, and change out of my pajamas into what is basically more pajamas…
…a soft cotton tank top and cropped white sweatpants.
Here’s what I look like on a normal day. This pic was taken in our dining room when we were promoting Underground last year.
Here’s what I look like today:
Ack! I kind of scared myself!
I don’t look good and I feel a little grimy, but I’m working and getting shiz done.
The point is this: we all have rules we make for ourselves.
One of mine is getting up and getting fully ready each morning – makeup, hair, and all.
Yours might be making a certain thing from breakfast each morning…or going for a run before work…or doing an hour of journaling and meditation.
When you break those rules, you don’t feel as good…
…in fact, you might even beat yourself up and tell yourself things like, “I’m going to get fat”…”I’m going to lose my mojo”…”If I break my streak, I’ll be a failure”…
…but when you’re sick and you gotta work, sometimes something’s gotta give.
Cut yourself a break on those things you like to do, but that aren’t absolutely necessary for the day.
Prioritize your sleep, get your work done, and know that you’ll get back on track with your normal schedule as soon as you feel better.
- Cold Remedies
I’m a Zycam girl, myself. If I start taking it as soon as I feel that first tickle in the back of my throat, I swear the stuff works.
My cold symptoms don’t get as bad, and I feel more like a zombie warmed over, rather than full-on death warmed over.
I also take a daily probiotic that’s helped both Dush and me stay pretty healthy overall.
Our friend, Mike Geary, from Truth About Abs, actually recommended it to us a few years ago – it’s called Inner-eco and you can check it out here: https://www.inner-eco.com/
Meghan on our team uses eucalyptus and lemongrass essential oils on her neck and chest to help her breath better with a cold, and she also likes Dayquil and Nyquil during those times she can barely function.
Jeni also gave a shout out for Nyquil when a cold is keeping her from sleeping, and she likes to drink a concoction of apple cider vinegar, hot water, honey, and lemon.
Lish and Ky both swear by elderberry for shortening colds. Lish also uses Umcka and Ky likes Hyland’s bioplasma cell salts, which was recommended by her Chinese medicine doctor.
Ky, our author of Mindful Mondays, also recommends these recipes:
Yogi Turmeric Tea (omit the black tea for no caffeine)
- 20 Black Peppercorns
- 15 whole cloves
- 20 cardamom seeds
- 3-5 cinnamon sticks
- 3-5 Ginger roots – sliced
- 3-5 Turmeric roots – sliced
- Black tea
- 2 quarts water
- Boil first 6 ingredients for 5 minutes; then add the black tea. Cover pot, and simmer 30 minutes to 2 hours. Strain and enjoy!
Fire Cider Vinegar (it’s like an herbal flu shot!)
- 1-2 large chunks each of ginger, turmeric and horseradish root
- 1 whole garlic head
- 1 onion
- 1 package each of rosemary, thyme, and sage
- 1-2 jalapenos
- 1 orange
- Chop up all ingredients and divide evenly among 2-4 large mason jars. Fill each mason jar to the top with apple cider vinegar. Let sit for 5-6 weeks, shaking every few days. After 5-6 weeks, strain solids and save liquid. Add about a shot glass of the liquid to soups, stews, or pretty much anything else, but know that it’s spicy!
- Get something done first thing in the morning.
If I can knock something out first thing in the morning, it’ll often give me the “feel good” boost I need to get through the rest of my day.
This is especially true if what I accomplish makes me feel really good – like booking a speaker for our client, Rob Hoffman with Wealth365 (we’re looking for new speakers in trading and investments right now for our October event, so email speakers@wealth365.com if you think you’re a fit https://summit.wealth365.com )…
…or knocking out a recording for a new class we’re putting together…
…or meeting with our team to get an update on a contest we’re running for 7 Days to Drink Less and finding out we’ve got 14 BIG affiliates on board to hit it hard this Monday! YAY!
(Got a women’s list age 35-55? Want in on $10,000 in prizes and 75% commissions? This offer also works for men’s lists, but converts especially well for women. Just send me an email at terra.ramachandran@thenetmomentum.com and I’ll give you the full scoop 🙂 )
Now…knocking out anything in the morning when I’m sick…
…other than a bottle of Nyquil and heading back to bed…
…is the last thing I feel like doing.
But if I can just drag my can out of bed (a feat on par with getting King Kong off the Empire State Building)… and get some cold water on my face…then the rest is all downhill.
And once I’ve knocked out that one thing, it’s easier to convince myself to knock out one more thing…and then maybe one more…and ok, I’ve got one more in me before I call it a day.
I hope I’ve given you some ideas for how to get yourself going on those days when you gotta work, but you and Mr. Yuck Virus are having a shoot out over who gets to use your energy today.
Above all else, remember this: doing your best is always relative.
My best on a day when I’m sick is totally different than my best on a day when I’m full of beans…
..and trying to make myself do my full-of-beans-day-best when I’m full of snot only makes me feel more miserable and drives my self-esteem into the ground because I’m trying to reach an unattainable goal.
Be kind to yourself. Do your best given how you feel. Treat yourself like you’d treat your best friend if they worked for you and came in looking like a creature from “Tales from the Crypt”.
Wishing you a healthy fall (or summer if you’re down unda!)
Love,
Terra
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