A Week Of Flu Made Me Reassess My Productivity and Habits
The flu knocked me out over the Easter break.
Getting sick sucks, but it’s always an excellent chance to relearn some lessons on wellness and productivity.
Here are my takeaways after being stuck in bed for a few days.
Working Evenings
I’ll be the first to admit that I push myself too far sometimes. It’s probably why I got so sick with this flu.
Between handling a 9-to-5 job, building my side business, and parenting duties, I can stretch myself a bit thin.
I work on my side business a lot in the evenings, and the results could be better a lot of the time. It’s like my mind is dulled in the evenings, and nothing flows quite as easily.
Then, I get annoyed by the poor quality and try and push through. And then it’s 1 am.
Lesson: Our bodies aren’t inexhaustible machines. Work in the daytime. And when our bodies shout for rest, prioritise rest!
Energy Drinks
Being a non-lover of tea or coffee, I stupidly decided that energy drinks would solve my lack of caffeine intake.
I don’t have anything against energy drinks, but I’m pretty sure they’re not great for you. And when I have one a day, I start to build a reliance on caffeine.
Then the flu came along, and I had zero caffeine. I think the withdrawals kicked in at the same time as the cold.
Lesson: Don’t rely on caffeine to get you through the day. Just sleep a bit more. It’ll suck, but it’ll be worth it.
Health > Everything
This might seem cliché, but the importance of good health honestly can’t be overstated.
I was stuck in bed over the Easter holidays. It’s meant to be a time of family and fun!
My 3-year-old daughter wanted to explore the world and play, but I wasn’t able to do anything with her.
Lesson: Our kids are only young for a little while. There’s only so much they’ll think you’re the best thing in the world and want to play with you. Prioritise your health so you have the energy to take them out on lots of adventures.
Our Environments Matter
While I was ill, the house became a lot more messy.
I couldn’t do the usual laundry loads, kitchen tidying, and toy picking up.
It made me realise that the environment we surround ourselves with dramatically influences our mental peace.
Clearer spaces lead to clearer minds.
Lesson: The less stuff you have, the less you have to maintain and clean. If the house can get out of hand too quickly, you’ll always be fighting against it and have it in your mind that chaos is just the flu away.
Return On Investment Matters (Even With Time!)
Finally, as I lay in bed scrolling social media, I concluded that getting sick is a waste of time.
Everyone gets sick. But if we eat better and look after ourselves, we don’t have to get quite as ill.
All that time spent recovering was expensive from a business perspective. Hours spent scrolling and watching YouTube shorts offer a pitifully low ROI.
Lesson: My business can grow faster if I focus on worthwhile activities like sending purposeful DMs, writing long-form content, and selling!
A week of illness wasn’t just about battling a virus; it forced me to confront habits and routines that weren’t serving me.
So, don’t wait for a week of flu to evaluate your habits.
Start ticking off actionable steps on your wellness journey today and focus on things that will offer a great return on your time. Your mind, body, and business will thank you.