Why You Suck at Sick Days (And What to Do About It)

Let's be honest — have you ever fantasized about calling in sick? Not because you're actually sick, but because it feels like the only way to justify taking a break? Maybe you picture finally cleaning out that closet, taking a nap in the middle of the day, or just... breathing. If that fantasy has ever crossed your mind, this episode is for you.

Because here's the thing: most of us are terrible at sick days — whether we're fantasizing about them or actually having one.

In this episode, I'm coming to you with a slightly squeaky voice (yes, I got sick too) and some real talk about what we do wrong when illness forces us to slow down — and what we need to do differently.

What we cover:

The Don'ts — things we need to stop doing when we're sick:

• Stop misreading your capacity. We already run at 150% on a normal day, operating on less sleep, less fuel, and less self-care than we should. When we get sick and drop down to 80%, we think that's practically normal. It's not. When you're sick, you are genuinely depleted — and pushing through makes it worse and longer.
• Stop expecting a hall pass without asking for one. If you show up to work or to your household looking "mostly fine," people will expect everything from you that they always do. You have to be explicit about what you can and can't do — or better yet, take yourself offline entirely.
• Stop confusing appropriate rest with laziness. Lying on the couch watching TV when you're sick is not a moral failing. It is literally the correct treatment. Your brain will tell you otherwise. Don't listen to it.

The Do's — what we should actually do:

• Delegate. Ask for help. Whether that's your partner, your kids, your staff, or your neighbors — people can and will step up, but you have to ask and be clear.
• Rest. For real. Sleep more. Nap in the middle of the morning if you need to. Stop pushing.
• Knock off the low-lift, naggy tasks you can do horizontally — the overdue multiple-choice CME questions, that one thing on your to-do list with a soft deadline. Keep it low-stress and low-brain.
• Get cozy. Fuzzy socks. Warm tea. A blanket. You've spent enough time in cold operating rooms and stiff scrubs. Lean into comfort.
• Let go of the guilt. You can be sick with guilt, or you can be sick without guilt. Either way, you're sick. Choose without.

The systems we work in were not designed with our humanity in mind — but that doesn't mean we have to internalize that. We have human bodies. We get sick. We are allowed to rest.

If you've been fantasizing about a sick day, that's a sign you need a real break — and that's something we can work on together.