Snow Days and Sick Days
My Project Manager, Liberty, stopped by yesterday evening to pick up the work laptop; the weather people were predicting 5-8 inches of snow today, so we both thought it best she work from home. She remarked that I was so smart for starting my own business and getting to work from home every day.
Well… yes and no.
I adore having my own business and being able to work from anywhere. The problem? I haven’t taken a sick day since my last “regular” job. I’ve been sick — but when your work is on your laptop, it makes no sense not to catch up on a few emails or small projects while you’re recovering and watching movies.
Even at my old job, I was terrified to take a sick day, because any time off was deducted from the general Paid Time Off bank of hours that I had to earn by working. Every sick day meant one less vacation day. I hated it.
The old paradigm of sick days and vacations days has given way to something new for me, and I’m calling the shots.
While I haven’t taken any sick days, I have taken several “I’m so engrossed in this book, I just need to read it all day” days and “It’s an awfully nice day to be outdoors hiking” days and “I think I’ll go to this archery competition” days.
There have also been weeks where I’ve stayed with my parents to help them out with whatever has been going on. (I went home a few days after my mom broke her hip to be there for her.) And there was, of course, a trip to Paris that was partially spent playing and exploring, and partially spent sitting in Parisian co-working cafes, working and pretending to be a local. It’s a whole different sort of arrangement, but I dig it.
No more sick days, no more snow days, but lots of days of following my heart, taking time for what matters most, and indulging just a little bit.
A much better arrangement, don’t you think?
As I write this I am home on a snow day. I’m a little irritated about it because I get paid hourly and my pay check is going to suck. This is like the 4th snow day this season. I really love the thought of not taking sick and snow days but taking days to do something amazing! It’s so healthy to take a day and do something you love. I wish I could do that! I can’t wait till I can :)
I sort of love the idea of being able to take a “do something awesome” day. That’s what I’m trying to view this second of three snow days (the eighth this year) as. Trying. I’m trying to forget the number of make-up days awaiting me in June…
I’m going to find myself a good book to read and make this a do something awesome day.
Stay warm!
I’m currently sitting at home with yet another snow day, as well. A foot of snow overnight. I’ve made it a day for me though. Might as well make the best of it, right? Catching up on Netflix, writing, reading, and slow mornings that consist of many cups of hot tea. Perfect in my book!