Growing up my parents taught me that if youāre too sick to [insert responsibility here] then youāre too sick to [insert something that makes you happy here].
It took me a really long time to unlearn this. When I would get sick or have aĀ ābad dayā I would deprive myself of anything that made me happy. Watching movies, eating something I enjoyed, going for a walk, playing video games or just browsing online looking at funny cat videos. I wouldnāt let myself do these things because I was always told that if Iām too sick to go to work, or do homework, or go to school then I must be too sick to play Mortal Kombat or watch Unsolved Mysteries lol.
Whenever I wouldnāt feel good, which I later learned as an adult was due to sleep deprivation caused by my ADHD and depression (and of course the depression itself would cause me to feel like shit), my parents would tell meĀ āif youāre not throwing up, then youāre not sick.ā And when I would stay home from school (or even work in my later teen years) my parents would make sure that I didnāt have anyĀ āfun.ā No TV, no movies, no games, no going outside, no arts and crafts, no books, no nothing. Just lay in bed and feel miserable.
Iām happy to say that I no longer do this to myself. Now when Iām having a bad day or Iām sick (cold, flu or whatever) I allow myself to do the things (within reason lol) that I actually love doing. If Iām not too sick to step outside for a few minutes then Iāll go for a walk. Iāll watch my favorite movies and if itās a bad day or a cold (something that doesnāt hinder my appetite too much) Iāll eat my favorite foods. I donāt guilt trip myself anymore for having aĀ āsick day.ā
Just because youāre sick (whether physically, emotionally or mentally) doesnāt mean that you canāt do things you enjoy. Youāre not any less sick because you watch TV. Youāre not any less sick because youāre playing video games.Ā
Actually you SHOULD be doing these things when youāre not feeling good because they make you feel better. The better you feel, the faster your heal.Ā
Thank you! I needed to read this.
oh. oH. OH. I needed this omfg
Staying home from work when you feel sick means you are;
Not spreading disease to your coworkers
Trying to relax so your body can fight the disease faster without extra stress holding you back.Ā Ā
Too tired to concentrate for 8 hours straightĀ
Too tired to do laborous physical activity for 8 hours straight
Not risking aggravating your symptoms and passing out or vomiting on the job
Staying home from work does not stop you from;
Doing relaxing things, like reading a book, browsing the internet, or watching a movie. These things take little mental effort, and are not comparable to working.Ā
Doing some chores, orĀ mildly laborious hobbies like knitting, writing, painting, or playing video games.Ā Just because you are shedding germs that could make others sick doesnāt necessarily imply you are incapable of physical activity. Even people who are recovering from a surgery that removed an entire organĀ can knit and play video games while they heal.Ā Ā Part of their GUTS are missing and they are ENCOURAGED to do hobby stuff.Ā
Going outside for a walk. Fresh air and the sight of trees and animals is actually proven to help you heal faster. Itās a verified form of physical and mental therapy. I encourage you to do it.Ā
Feeling happy, feeling relaxed, feeling positive and stress-free; those things help you recover faster.Ā
Take note of the COVID virus. Some people feel perfectly fineĀ while infected. They might feel like they have a tiny cough, or a little tired, but they certainly are not bedridden.Ā
However, it would SAVE LIVES if that infected person would STAY HOME and not go in to work or school.Ā
To prevent the spread of disease to your classmates and coworkers is an ETHICALLY and MORALLY GOOD reason to stay home. You are a part of society. Extend that kindness to the folks around you.Ā
Addition to this: the rationale of this among many parents us āmy kid will fake sick to get out of schoolā - that was why I malingered so much as a kid. Neither of my parents ever wanted to examine why I hated school enough to induce vomiting to avoid it.
If youāre worried your kid is pretending to be sick, itās worth examining why they would want to āpretendā that in the first place instead of assuming the worst of them and instilling in them the fear of being seen as ānot sick enoughā if they donāt perform misery to your standards.
Oh hey shit I wish I could have laminated for my mother years ago.
