Navigating Extended Sick Leave

I am writing this weeks blog to embrace the absurdity of my own perceived indispensability. I’m currently moving with the agonising hesitation of shy snail while trying to synchronize my body and brain to just surrender to being on extended sick leave. This is a new one for me.

The real danger right now? Myself, and the lingering delusion that I have the capacity to do regular things or even just check a few work messages.

But tbh the medical decree is keeping me straight as it was somewhat terrifyingly binary. Take two weeks of stillness now or face weeks (or even worse months) of recovery.

Every time I think, "I’ll just do” I have to tell myself that I am physically sabotaging my own healing. But did you know you can literally think yourself into staying broken? Stressing spikes cortisol, which to healing tissues is like trying to rebuild a house during a hurricane. 

The traps are everywhere though and I do find myself considering just a little WFH during this extended sick leave as a virtuous compromise of sorts. It really is hard to stay out the loop and not worry about all the work you will face on return. In reality though it is not recommended. Just an hour of work isn't just an hour. It’s a massive draw on glucose and oxygen reserves that my immune system needs to rebuild. In short, I'm hindering not helping myself here.

Despite the specialist telling me the Cayman Islands won’t sink in my absence LOL I admit I am feeling a social cost too. I am missing my friends, my routines, going out and being present, the FOMO is real! I also worry others at work are judging my empty chair…And so the value of genuine "Get Well" messages and a bouquet of flowers cannot be underscored strongly enough these feel like legitimate medical interventions that tell my nervous system it’s safe to heal. Messages are like a digital weighted blanket, that aren’t just nice, they’re neurologically helping me knit myself back to wellness!

All tips for surviving another week of captivity welcome!