Before this person responded, they looked around the room to check that there was no one they knew at this course—like they were about to drop something really huge that could land them in trouble.
They leaned in and spoke more quietly. Once the information was delivered, it got me thinking about the fact that this should be celebrated rather than hidden or carry a sense that there will be consequences if someone finds out.
You know what they did? They took a sick day because they were feeling tired and needed some time out to reset. YES!
They weren’t in bed all day, hardly able to speak. Maybe they were able to work, and they enjoyed having a day off to fill their cup—it’s not like they went to the cricket and ended up on the front page of the newspaper like someone I know (yes, there was a huge “please explain” waiting for them).
When we listen to what we need—when our body is telling us something—and we take notice of the signs that we won’t be at our best, getting in before it gets worse is something to be celebrated.
I’m not suggesting that you take sick days willy-nilly, as they are there to support you when you are unable to work. However, I am advocating for the idea that we don’t have to be completely unable to get out of bed to use them.
Taking a preventative day off and looking after your mental health and wellbeing is important to avoid the crash-and-burn scenario.
I have heard of situations where employees are too scared to call in sick or get grilled about how sick they were. On the other hand, I’ve also seen companies implementing different names for ‘sick days,’ adopting a no-explanation policy, and promoting extra wellbeing days as a bonus for employees.
I’d love to hear from you—what have you seen or experienced that helps you navigate your leave days without having to look around the room and feel like you have to hide the fact that you took a day to look after yourself?
When we listen to what we need
