Do Writer’s Get Sick Days?

Can writers allow themselves to miss a day when they’re under the weather?

I didn’t feel too hot yesterday. I had a sore throat and was a bit groggy. Last night I barely slept as I went from hot to cold and my throat became sandpaper brushing a metal rasp. So today I called in sick to the day job. One, I could barely talk and my job involves talking A LOT. Two, after three years of COVID-19 paranoia no one wants a sick coworker showing up for their shift.

That meant I had the day to rest up and heal. Hot tea, some Emergen-C, a little DayQuil, and bedrest. That’s today’s regimen. As a writer, though, I felt this gave me a free day to move forward with the WiP, update my marketing, do some research, etc.

And so I wrote.

And what I wrote was crap.

Writers, when you’re sick, focus on getting better. While writing may not be a physically taxing venture, it does drain the mental reserves. All your body’s systems are fighting to get the interloping virus/germ/bacteria the heck out of Dodge. Forcing yourself to write because you perceive a window will only lengthen your illness.

True, this is a subjective topic. Some illnesses aren’t too taxing. Maybe you have a deadline to meet? Perhaps while resting you get a brainstorm and want to strike while the bolt is hot? In the end, it’s up to you to decide what’s best. But even writers should feel okay with taking a sick day. You’ll do better work when you get better.