It is flu season and I am one of those assholes who go to work anyways.
Yes, it’s true. I have absolutely no qualms about infecting my coworkers with my reddened, snot-nosed germs. In fact I will gladly suffer through hours of isolation in my office using up a full box of tissues and starring miserably at my computer screen if it means that I won’t come back to a mountain of work and a depleted sick bank.
Don’t get me wrong, dear reader, I love staying home curled up in a blanket in front of ‘Once Upon a Time’ reruns with zero company, a massive cup of tea and an excuse not to shower but sometimes that luxury just isn’t feasible.
Now, since my accident, I am certainly more relaxed about my occasional need for sick time. (Sick happens.) It has actually been humbling to learn that the world does run without me and that deadlines don’t explode if I am not in the office. But even with this knowledge I still have a hard time not doing work.
I love my job, I enjoy my work, and I hate coming back to the office well rested but still not quite ready to face a hundred emails.
Instead I’d much rather wash my hands excessively and stare miserably at the screen as those emails trickle in at a manageable rate, saving my coughing fits for whenever the phone rings.
And despite the fact that I loathe other people who come in sick to work I really enjoy my double standard.
Besides, I get far less interruptions on days when I look like Patient Zero in the next big plague.
So for you, dear reader, in honour of Flu Season, I would like to share my tips for getting through a work day without dying of the plague:
- Make sure you bring in your own box of Kleenex. Most offices provide Kleenex but it’s usually cheap and scratchy. If you know you are going to spend the entire day with a tissue against your face why use one that’s going to feel like broken glass? Trust me on this. Spend the extra couple of dollars and enjoy your day in (relative) comfort.
- Don’t wear makeup. Honestly. It’s best to look as bad as you feel in this situation to cut back on interruptions and allow people to truly believe you when you say you are sick. Sure, your coworkers will resent you for showing up anyway, but as long as they leave you alone who cares?
- Wear comfy clothes. I usually skulk in wearing my black yoga pants and a business-y yet cozy sweater on days that I am deathly ill. This way I can be comfortable while still looking professional (at least if one squints from a distance).
- Bring at least one travel mug for tea (and tea bags!). It’s going to be way too much effort to walk to the local coffee shop so you may as well boil some water at work. Bonus points for doing it during high traffic times like coffee and lunch so you can show even more people your dedication to coming into work.
- Whine all the time! This increases the likelihood that people will do some of your work for you, even if it’s just to avoid having to come within a 20 foot radius of your office. This way you can be miserable AND have some leisure time.
There are many other tried and true tips but I don’t want to give away all my secrets.
Stay healthy, dear reader!
As an aside: My love of hyperbole will be skipping this Flu Season. Having actually been hit by a van I can honestly say having the flu feels nothing like being run-over. Go figure.
Ugh. Feeling sick is the pits! I hope you feel better soonly, hon! It’s funny; when I was a young girl, I HATED missing school!! I would definitely risk passing on all of my coughs, sore-throat, and body-achness to my fellow classmates and teachers than miss a test or an assignment. But now? As an adult? Who doesn’t hate her job but definitely doesn’t like it all that much and would rather stay at home in her sweats while watching Once Upon a Time, I relish the days I am sick and CAN stay home haha.
I have a love/hate relationship with sick days. It’s super weird haha. I always wish I would get sick so I could have a day off and just be at home, but then as soon as I actually do get sick I get so anxious about missing work.
It’s quite the quandary!
I’m always whining at work LOL, too bad I can’t blame it on being sick!
It feels good to whine every now and again … especially when accompanied by Wine!
hey sarah, i stopped by to see how your solo november’s going, what xena episode you’re on, only to read you’re sick and injured. hope you feel better. but according to your tips i’m practically plague ready, tea’s not my bag. so you know there’s some good news!
Hahaha, I’ve actually abandoned Xena (for now) and have been binge watching Doctor Who. I will start soon though!
I am feeling better this week.
It’s always good to be plague ready 🙂
oh, is it the current season of dw? i watch via netflix so i’m behind. good to hear you’re doing well(er).
Yes, it’s the current season. So far I am liking the new Doctor!
And thank you!
i really enjoyed him in “the thick of it” and “torchwood:coe” so i’m looking forward to the new season. hope you don’t mind all the back and forths!
No worries at all 🙂
Hopefully it arrives on Netflix soon so you can enjoy it! It’s quite fun.