YESTERDAY
Yesterday I woke up at 4:00 am to get ready to take my daughter to the airport. It was earlier than my usual rise and shine of 6:00 am, give or take. I came straight back home to rest up before it was time to get the BroMan up. Coffee, check the social platforms, coffee, wordle, phoodle… and review my mental checklist of the numerous things I want to accomplish.
But yesterday was different. I feel like if I had a job that required me to report to an office building outside my home environment, I would have had to call in. Body aches, sore throat, headache, drainage, and just plain sensitive to light, surrounding noises were some of the symptoms, but there was work that was still required of me. But I don’t feel good.
BUSY AS A BEE ON HONEY NIGHT
Back up just a bit. We’ve been busy grandparents and we’ve had a busy household sharing time with my people: two of our daughters, one SIL, and two grandchildren, sister and great nephew, BFF and her family. A joyous and not-a-moment of boredom time spent with family and friends. After a busy weekend, the grandchildren and their parents made their journey back home on Sunday, and my youngest daughter flew back to her home early Monday morning.
LISTEN TO MY BODY TALK
I was already recovering from a lower back incident, but it had improved and I am managing. Everyone was gone, the house regained its stillness and quietness (a calmness but at the same time a missing of my people). It’s strange to me how our bodies and mind keep us going when we are busy and then seems to know when it’s time to shut down. My body tells me what it needs when it comes to food, exercise, water… and I run it like a bulldozer a lot of the time. Why can’t I slow down? That’s another story.
Throughout my “workday” I do take breaks; that’s because my workday usually starts early in the morning and into the evening. If I don’t take my breaks, my body will do it for me. I think that’s what happened yesterday.
WHAT IS A SICK DAY?
So, I took a sick day yesterday and today. Taking a sick day in the same environment where I work doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ve taken a full sick day. This got me thinking if my sick days working from home are equivalent to those who work in traditional workplace settings.
First of all, what is a sick day? …paid time off from work for employees to stay home to address their health needs… (Wikipedia Sick leave – Wikipedia) What does that mean exactly, health needs? That’s what happened to me yesterday. The physical symptoms were there so that is why I allowed myself to take a sick day. I even took a nap after the BroMan’sc breakfast was taken care of. And then again after his lunch was taken care of. Dinner was on the Hubs (he got takeout).
Today, I woke up with the same symptoms, but feeling improved. Still, I can’t actually take a sick day with the BroMan’s daily needs and health needs. So, coffee, breakfast, wordle, phoodle … (my headache was less today) and then get the BroMan started on his day. We started his laundry too (he can be very helpful).
HOW MANY DO YOU GET?
I checked online to see how many sick days are given to employees these days. Here’s what I found on Indeed.com.
BLS Average Sick Days Per Year | Indeed.com
Private – 7 days per year for FT; 6 for PT
State and Federal – 11 days per year for FT; 9 for PT
Civilian – 8 days per year for FT; 6 for PT
Wow! Now I don’t get sick as much these days (I used to get sick a lot when I was under a lot more stress) but I may need another day or two to get back to feeling my healthy self again. That could be 4 days used up for this one occurrence. If I worked outside the theoretical homey-sphere, I will have used up potential half of my sick leave. I remember when I did work a salaried job, I used up my sick leave every year either on myself or when my kids were sick. My immediate boss was not in favor of this phenomenon.
A GOOD BOSS MAKES ME FEEL BETTER
It’s a good thing my boss is understanding and takes good care of me. We’ve made adjustments over the years and the benefits of my working at home have been beneficial. Especially, raising 3 daughters. Now that it is just us – party of 3, I need to stop now and then to take a sick day when I need it. I’ve got a list of things I need to do on the daily and with respect to time-sensitive projects. It’s 8:35 pm, and I am heading to bed.
Take Good Care