The Upside of Sick Days

Denise Jelinek considers five good fruits of a sick day, offering encouragement to see the bright side of the situation.

Nobody likes being under the weather, much less on their back, sick in bed.

However, it is inevitable, especially during cold and flu season.

On the outside, sick days look like a lost day, a day that puts us “behind.” However, I’m writing this while I am sick in bed, so I’m challenging myself to see that this down time is exactly what’s supposed to be happening. It is part of the plan; I am not behind and there are many good things that result from sick days.

Here are some fruits of a sick day:

They teach you how to pamper yourself and treat yourself like Jesus would.

Jesus is always tender, caring, and loving, and this is an opportunity to practice being like Him to you. Sick days are full permission to take care of yourself. Wear your favorite clothes, drink your favorite tea, watch your favorite show, or do whatever makes you feel the most cared for and loved.

Personally, I love to stay cozy in my bed with lots of pillows, surrounded by my journals and laptop so that when I feel up to it, I can do some of my favorite things: writing and working.

They force you to flex the “I need help” muscle.

Often women hesitate to ask for help because they don’t want to “bother” others. However, more times than not, our husbands and friends would love to help. It’s a win-win: we practice asking for help and they get the opportunity to serve in a meaningful way.

When asking for help, be specific and dare to ask for more than you “think you should.” For example, instead of asking for a friend to bring your child home after school, consider asking her to let your kiddo play at her house for an hour or two.

If asking for help is challenging for you, remember, you will always be willing to reciprocate. When you’re sick, your job is to rest and recover, so asking for help to eliminate anything that stands in the way of you recovering is the honest thing to do.

They create gratitude for the timing.

We all have big events, work presentations, or parties that have gone off without a hitch. But imagine if illness had struck during the week of an important occasion? Wouldn’t that be so disappointing?

Last week was a full week of interviews and work presentations that have led to more opportunities for me. Had I been sick then, I would’ve missed out on all of them. I’m so grateful to be sick now, instead of then.

null

They clarify the essentials.

When you are sick, give yourself permission to only do what’s necessary and essential. By doing this, you realize it’s possible to simplify your life and that running your home and life may require less than you thought. Perhaps you can take this as a cue to pare down your to-do list.

Currently, the essentials in my life are driving my teenagers to school and activities. They can make themselves meals and do their homework.

Your essentials may be a longer list, especially if you have smaller children. Consider reaching out to a friend and creating a “sick day” plan (for both of you), where you agree to help each other with child care and driving kiddos when the other is sick.

Keep a couple of soups or freezer meals on hand so you can easily pull them out. My hack for this is to double the amount of a meal I’m already cooking and freeze half.

They increase gratitude for sleep.

I’m always grateful for sleep, but never more than when I am up in the middle of the night due to illness (or pain) and then fall back asleep and wake to realize it’s been several hours later. What a gift!

My rule when I’m sick is to sleep as much as I can. I believe this is the fastest way to heal my body.

Click to tweet:
Focusing on the negative part of sick days makes them feel heavier than they have to be. #CatholicMom

Sick days are another reminder that nothing happens in God’s world by mistake. His timing is always perfect, even though sometimes we may not agree. Focusing on the negative part of sick days makes them feel heavier than they have to be, so I challenge you to see the bright side of your next sick day and create your own list of good things about sick days.

null