What to Do When You Can’t Write
Real life has a way of creeping up slowly and then leaping on you to eat you alive when you least expect it. It’s inevitable – someday, at some time, something will happen that absolutely, irrevocably removes any ability you have to get a damned thing done.
I’m talking about the common cold, people.
As I write this post, I have to pause every 30 seconds to blow my nose, an action that makes me want to scream with pain. My teeth hurt. I’m coughing up a lung. My voice sounds two tones lower (much to my neighbor’s delight because apparently it sounds sexy as hell) and conversation on the most banal subjects is a true test of brainpower.
Speaking of brains, mine is currently being pressure-squeezed. The powers of chemical warfare in the forms of Nyquil, Sudafed and lozenges aren’t delivering on their promises of instant relief. I’m not winning the battle, people.
I have work to do, clients waiting on my responses and deadlines approaching – and I can’t string a sentence together for the life of me (this blog post being the exception, it seems).
You know what I’m talking about. Everyone lives this moment at some point or another. It’s inevitable. Humans are frail creatures. We’re at the mercy of germs and their whims. I can hear them cackling now.
So what do you do when you can’t write or work? You cope. Here are the best techniques for dealing with real life when you just can’t prevent a cold from taking you down:
Honesty Is the Best Policy
Too many people are afraid to admit the truth. You might try to bang out the work while running a fever or sniffling away, hoping to meet that deadline and deliver on promises. You probably don’t advise clients out of fear, worrying that they’ll think you’re unreliable. You might even think that clients will never come back to work with you again.
Um, no. Clients have real-life eat them alive from time to time too. They understand not feeling well or being unable to deliver by the deadline. Letting them know that you may not be able to meet the deadline as soon as you start feeling unwell is polite, responsible and smart.
Don’t wait to the last minute, either. It’s a better idea to alert clients at the first signs of trouble, because that gives them the opportunity to deal with the situation and make choices. They really don’t want to scramble at the last minute.
And if you get better sooner than you expected? Great. Get back to work. That’s all. No one will think it silly that you sent out a warning of potential delay only to retract it. They’ll appreciate that you had the foresight to alert them of a possible setback in the first place.
Proactive When You Have No Action
Clients may be sympathetic that you feel like crap, but they may not be 100% thrilled that you won’t deliver the work on time. That’s okay; you don’t need to defend yourself. It’s no reflection on your capabilities, your integrity or your ethics. Clients who aren’t happy that real life bit you are just grumbling because they have deadlines to meet as well, and your situation means they need to find a solution.
So think ahead. Help them out. Make it easy. Propose some solutions so that clients don’t feel stuck. Think of alternatives and options that help circumvent delays.
Guesstimate when you could feasibly deliver and let clients know so they can choose whether to wait for your health to return or find someone else to step in. If you know of a reliable colleague who could help, tell clients immediately and offer to get in touch with the person to set it up.
I’ll say it again: Outsource. You have a responsibility to provide the best to clients, even if it’s not your best. Plugging away while you’re sick only cheats customers, because there is no way that you can do your best job when you just aren’t up to it.
You might also want to offer clients a partial or full reimbursement on deposits. This demonstrates your sincerity about making sure customers aren’t stuck by providing them with the available resources to find someone else to finish the job while you recover.
Know When to Pass the Buck
Somewhere along the way, people get pretty screwed up in their heads. We’re so battered into thinking we need to be self-sufficient and independent that we reach a point we can’t ask anyone for help at all. We think we have to do everything ourselves, come hell or high water.
Learn to recognize when you need a helping hand and get used to asking people for support. Delegate your work, have someone replace you and get someone to respond to your email for a while so you can get some rest.
You can practice asking for help before you really need it. Make a point of asking friends, family or colleagues to help you with a small task or job each day. The more you ask others for help, the easier the asking becomes when you really need the extra hands.
You’ll also be able to get support quickly without feeling awkward, and you can pay the favor back when that person needs your help, too.
It’s your turn. Can you think of other ways to deal with common colds (besides recommending Fisherman’s Friend or Buckley’s syrup) that keep you from working? What have you done when you couldn’t finish a job? What would you do next time?
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What timing — I read this with a fever slowly creeping into my body, and my concentration sure is suffering…
I agree that people are normally much more forgiving than you’d expect. I suppose it’s hard to get mad at someone who’s hacking up a lung or mumbling nonsense through a raging fever. All that said, you seem to write quite well despite all the symptoms and the medicine head!
Can colds be transmitted over the internet? I feel like I’m starting to get sick as well… something must be going around the blogosphere.
Not even going to try to be coherent right now… I’ve filled my quota for making sense for the week. *off to sleep, hopefully won’t feel sicker in the morning*
Excellent post, I’ll be back later with a better comment once I get my brain straight.
Allison Days last blog post..A Look Into My Fridgg
James,
Feeding little Pen chicken soup now. Poor dear.
You described my last week perfectly, though how you knew, I’m not sure. In my world, the kid gets it the first week of school, then brings it home, so I have several days to be sure I’m gonna get it, and bang. The days when I’m sure I’m going to are worse than when it hits, in a way. Very distracting.
Forgive yourself is my number one rule. When I’m sick, it’s really easy to get down on myself for not being up to the work. Everybody else can be kind to me, but that’s because they don’t know I’m a slacker! Thoughts that I never have when well. So I have to remind myself—a lot—that I am doing my best, that capable folks are taking care of what I can’t, and that this too shall pass.
Feel better, dear Man With Pen.
Regards,
Kelly
Kellys last blog post..Tip of the Week: SIMPLIFY, Simplify, simplify
Excellent advice, James. I find that offering clients a solution keeps them happy so that on the odd occasion when you can’t do it, they are are more understanding.
Ah, I battled those germs last week. I make a mean chicken soup when my kids are sick, but when it comes to me, I end up with stuff from a can.
Hope you feel better quick!
I’ve had to fake my way through not being sick while teaching pre-school. The parents don’t want the teacher sick, even though their little one are what put me there. I’ve never been unable to write though, not yet anyway. Sorry your sick, James. Late summer colds are the worst.
Writer Dads last blog post..The Ninth Wonder?
Get well soon, James!
I find that getting as much sleep as possible helps with a cold. I usually avoid sleeping in because I write best before breakfast … but if you’re ill, it’s a must-do.
And, boring as it sounds, getting plenty of fruit & veg always helps me both avoid, and recover from, being ill.
James,
This is an excellent post. There is no doubt you are writing this post in the moment with very good advice. The ‘Honesty is the Best Policy’ section did a very good job of highlighting how important it is to communicate effectively and in a timely manner with the customer even if it’s news the customer doesn’t want to hear. Take care.
Mark
I swear that I am not responsible for anyone who catches my virus through high-speed lines. Really.
@ Mark – Yup. There’s a difference between, “not thrilled to hear this,” and the end of the world. By being honest quickly, clients feel far more in control of the situation and are usually pretty kind about it.
@ Ali – Thanks
Tea helps. Though I’m drinking coffee right now…
@ Writer Dad – Reminds me of my daycare. The woman was very sick and kept pushing through because parents weren’t very forgiving about having to care for their own children for a few days. I was the only one who said, “Good god, go get some meds!” Finally she did and was diagnosed with a double-infection and had to take two weeks off to recover.
@ Karen – Stuff from a can here too. It’s better than nothing when I can’t even hold a pot properly.
@ Kelly – I have *no* issues being a slacker when I’m sick lol I’m a real sympathy sucker. Unfortunately, everyone knows this. (sigh) Little Pen is happy, thank you.
@ Sharon – Yeah. Just saying that you can’t do it leaves them stuck and complaining. Helping them out shows goodwill and that you’re really trying.
@ Allison and Zoe – See my disclaimer above. I didn’t do it; I swear.
Hey James,
Honesty is certainly the best policy. On the rare occasions I can’t make a deadline because I’m sick, I always tell clients ahead of time. Thankfully (knock on wood) there have not been any make-or-break deadlines, so they are usually pretty understanding.
The only advice I would add is “plan to get sick”. In other words, pad the project timeline whenever possible so that if something unexpected comes up like a sickness (yours or the kids’…) you have some extra room to play with.
Cutting deadlines close can be your own undoing. Besides, if you pad your timeline and everything goes smoothly, you can deliver ahead of schedule. And that is never a bad thing…
~Graham
Well, seeing as I’m curled up on the couch with a kleenex box right beside me and my brain in a complete fog, I am unable to come up with anything coherent to say. I could have just not commented, but not commenting on a MwP’s post is unthinkable. Far better to write nothing, than to write nothing. Ha, even in my brain dead state, I can be clever with my words. *chuckle*
Hi James,
I just got over a head cold and used the following remedies:
- 1 Vitamin C (500mg) tablet every hour when I first started feeling the symptoms
- Eat mucho honey. I mean take a big old spoon of it and let it slide down your throat. It will help with that cough, and ease the throat pain. Manuka honey is great.
- Lots and lots (and lots) of water. Gargle salt with warm water if your throat is very sore
Great points in this post.
I agree on the fore-warning also. Honesty when first feeling the symptoms can allay later frustration on the clients part. If you wait until you are stuffed up and incapable of following through on delivered promises, they might not be so understandable.
Communication is so important. We always make sure clients know exactly where we are in any process. If something has come up that may slow down or halt progress, they need to know. I believe that practice goes a long way in building open relationships and a sturdy communication platform.
What to do next time? Not so easy. These “common colds” have some wicked strains. I guess having a “Sick Process” in place could be helpful, using delegation and outsourcing like you suggested. Sounds silly, but a necessary silly-ness. As you said, we are human.
Great post.
Conor
Hope you feel better soon, James. I’ve been blowing my nose every 30 seconds the past few weeks with allergy, so I know what a pain that can be all on its own.
Knowing when to pass the buck has always been the hardest for me. I’m stubborn. I grew up with a mother who told me if I wanted anything done right I would have to do it myself. And she was usually right. I had never faced a sickness I couldn’t work through until I got mono this year and literally couldn’t sit up. I had no choice but to tell clients what was up and offer to have someone replace me (where appropriate). It killed me not being able to work, and I felt like an ass. But I had no choice. Looking back, it was a valuable lesson in being prepared. I hired someone to help with my workload and began scouting around for others who do what I do and would be willing to help with my clients in case of emergency. I also cut back my workload substantially after that, for fear of relapsing mostly, but also because I learned the hard way that my workaholic tendencies were running my health into the ground.
Again, hope you feel better soon.
Amy Derbys last blog post..Slammin’ Sunday: Round Two
I’m sorry but I had a good laugh reading how you are spreading the germs over the internet with your superpower!
Just be gentle with yourself. I have 100% trust that your body is doing what is best for you. A little “cold” can be a cleansing process.
I don’t mind if you deliver my work a bit late. Take your rest and when you feel better, please do a good work as I know you can do.
Poor James, I was so hoping it was one of those 24 hour things and you’d be your perky self again. Sorry to hear you’re having such a rough time. Maybe it’s your body’s way of forcing you to slow down, eh?
Having a support system in place is definite must when things go sour with your work schedule. Having a few colleagues and friends to call on can help keep you in business when the stinky stuff hits the fan.
Kinda like when the remnants of a hurricane knock out your power for 2-6 days, and some nice man (who happens to share your bed and last name) goes out and buys a generator so you can keep working.
Or when you dad dies and your co-workers tell you “No problem, just take care of your family.” Yeah, it’s good to have these experiences and learn to appreciate what’s important in life.
Thanks a lot guys. For everything.
Jamies last blog post..9 Steps to Clearer Writing
Good thing I have an Anti-Virus installed on my computer
Honesty is always numeral uno with me and it truly is the best way to go. Often times a lie is just as confusing or irresponsible as the truth, so just tell the truth. And like you said, everyone’s human and everyone gets sick.
Communication, like you said, is key.
For me, the best thing to do is allow yourself to heal, otherwise you could add up to another week of feeling ill – which is an injustice to your customers.
John Hoff – eVentureBizs last blog post..Staying Positive During Hard Times
Big soft pillows and very soft tissues, lots of liquids….and sometimes a real trashy novel…this is after the client alert has been sent out, delegations meted out…our bodies have a way of healing themselves if we give them some downtime to do it…. and drugs, nice strong ones if there’s pain. Hey, suffering is not a badge of courage.
And what really helps is if there’s someone there to just smooth your brow a bit, get that next bit of juice for you, tuck the covers a little nicer, pull your book out from your hands and turn the light off for you… or even just virtual friends saying hope you feel better soon.
Life is messy, most people understand…we all adjust and hope that you take care and feel better soon.
Janice C Cartiers last blog post..Meeting Michael
Hi James – thank God this wasn’t one of those writer’s block posts. I didn’t think you would write one of those.
I would do what you’ve done too – outsourcing keeps everyone happy and lets you recover. There’s no way you can do your best work when you’re full of cold. Get well soon.
Nice post here James! Definitely hope you get well soon. Your openness is nice to hear and will go a long way with the people you work with.
Nicely done. I’ve had days where a client has asked for something and I just can’t for the life of me write a single sentence that makes sense. Fortunately I’ve had enough presence of mind to do what you’ve suggested: let them know and offer them solutions. They have always been grateful that I’ve not handed them crap and that I’ve thought the situation through to provide possible alternatives.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndromes last blog post..A Life Without Somedays: Erin Doland Interview
Hi James,
take care and get better soon!
I am an employed person and my experience is that my colleagues insist on me staying at home and concentrating on getting well soon. One or two times they almost threw me out of the office, explaining to me that the world definitely was not crashing down without me sitting at the computer desk.
When I have a cough I take “Wobenzym” (I don’t know if you have that where you live, but here in Germany it is rather known for taking away coughs and sinusitis.
All the best for you!
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..In the Neighbourhood
@ Ulla – Yeah, that’s true, eh? When I worked in the office, everyone would drag themselves to work looking like death warmed over, and then everyone else would say, “Go home. You’re too sick.” With that blessing, the person would shuffle on back home with a clear conscience. I think that’s what’s missing for web workers – someone outside of friends and family giving them ‘permission’ to take time off to be sick.
@ Alex – Exactly! That’s what I say to clients. “I could do this for you, but it really wouldn’t be my best and I’d feel bad. I’d rather take a few days to get back on my feet so that I can do a great job.” I mean, what are they going to say? “No! I want your crappiest work!” Heheh…
@ Sonny – Day six or so… gettin’ there, gettin’ there… slow but sure. I can breathe today but my teeth are killing me. Sinus pressure.
@ Cath – Well, I didn’t outsource, actually. I worked double time at the first sign that I might be coming down with something and got everything completed so that I could go die.
Question for you – you didn’t think I’d write about writer’s block because you believe I don’t get it or you didn’t want to read another post about writer’s block?
@ Janice – Hmm… Soft bed, a smut novel and nice drugs. Damn, woman! That’s sounding tempting even if I were healthy!
@ John – Ha, exactly. A day or three of rest can often be exactly what helps to make everything go away in good time, versus pushing through and dragging it out for weeks. Besides, if you take a day or three to rest, you can apply Janice’s remedy.
@ Jamie – I’d rather have this. Those 24-hour things can be damned nasty and resemble food poisoning, which I’ve had once. NOT fun.
@ Akemi – Someone told me that after a reading, the shit hits the fan because of creating disturbance. Half of me is giving you the arched eyebrow that says, “Did you do this?” The other half is saying, “Naaaah. Coincidence.”
@ Amy – Ahhh, control. Such a marvelous thing, isn’t it? Gotta have it, and it’s our killer.
@ Conor – Setting up Plan Bs for eventualities is a smart idea, not a silly one. “When sick, do this.” All you need to do is set the plan in motion and it takes care of itself. I think systems like that are great for all sorts of things in business – work overload, work famine, running against the clock, stuck on a process… “When X, do Y.” Awesome.
@ Urban РDid he get the ros̩?
@ Graham – I think that’s important in general. Too many freelancers don’t add a little padding “just in case”. Promise less, deliver more. Success.
@James – shiraz, as per your suggestion, and it’s all explained in his post today.
Urban Panthers last blog post..All things for all people
Oooh, I’m going to see! WOOT!
Hope you feel better soon James. I learned a long time ago to cut back everything I possible can every September and crank up the Rest, Rest, Rest and health and balance. Something about kids, school and germs this time of the year means that immune systems need to be on high alert. But of course it’s decades of being a parent before I figured that out and started to work on *preventing* the annual whiplash of being slammed on my backside.
Wendi Kellys last blog post..MOVING DAY!
If anything, your soul is doing it for yourself. Trust the process. It’s all good. You are a big boy, you can handle this
Disclaimer:
My reading does NOT cause colds.
Akemi “spiritual entrepreneur” @ Yes to Mes last blog post..A Year Without Paychecks, Part 2
@ Akemi – Ohmigod that disclaimer is funny! Hehehe, no worries. I know damned well my teen brought it home from school.
As for being a big boy, there are some people that I’m sure have raised eyebrows questioning the age I come off as sometimes
James,
Whaddya mean? You’re my very favorite 11-year-old. No raised eyebrows here.
Kellys last blog post..Tip of the Week: SIMPLIFY, Simplify, simplify
Good post for someone in your state of suffering.
Now, shut-down the computer and go take a nap for God’s sake.
Reading your story about feeling so poorly, I wish I lived near to make some fresh ginger water for you, Grate fresh ginger in distilled water and drink lots. A cold is actually a healing crisis, bless it and sip the ginger water and you will feel better.
I!m not a trained writer, but love to write. I began my own blogging about 4 months ago, and have about 70 articles posted. I write about what-ever pops into my head when I sit down at computor.I!m almost computor illiterate and type with 2 fingers. I just started reading other blogs a few days ago.
I!m well into my eighties, and writing on the internet is like finding a new toy for me.
I hope you feel better. Anne Cleveland sept 16,2008
Aw, thanks Anne. Slowly on the mend and getting there.
Hey, check out the model shot of you! Coolness!
Hey for a sicko this post is full of great ideas – I wonder what you’re like when you are healthy? Seriously, a lot of our clients could use this advice. There is a huge danger in doing everything yourself, and boy does it hit if you become ill.
We’ve been wondering where this Lone Ranger-ism comes from, and we’re theorizing that it’s born when we first go to public school (that’s where you learn that collaboration is called “cheatingâ€) and is strengthened, especially among solo-preneurs, by a lack of cash.
Small business guys are not comfortable spending money on stuff they can do themselves. The result is home renovations that are not only ugly, but dangerous; really bad cooking; and makeshift business solutions. Not to mention a nation of business owners who can’t think very well because they are over-tired and stressed-out.
Our Aha! moment came when we realized we could either give our money to a professional colleague or supplier who would help us grow our business and stay sane…or the federal government as part of our tax bill. It’s been great.
@ Liz – Hey, thanks for stopping by, and thanks for that thought-provoking comment, too. That’s exactly what we try to help people avoid – cheaping out on makeshift solutions when you want to be serious about business.
I’m with you on the Aha! moment, too. I used to want to do everything myself (just because I can). The first time I outsourced a really easy task that was just eating up my time and keeping me from what I wanted to do, I was like… “Holy god, Harry! Did you see this? LOOK! Look what we can do!! And it’s tax deductible!!! Okay, what else can we outsource, come on… find something, man, find something!”
And he looked at me (virtually) and said, “Dude. Haven’t I been telling you this for months…?”
As for writing well while I’m sick (still am, getting there, though)… Each comment that came through on this post had me coming back to read my own work because I was so sick, I couldn’t remember what I’d written that was so good. I should get sick more often lol
Three or four times a week, write about a subject for 10-15 minutes without going back to correct your mistakes or judging what you’ve written. If you can’t think of anything to write, write, “I can’t think of anything to write,” or, “I’m looking for something to write ,” and continue writing. The act of writing, even if your words don’t make much sense, strengthens your writing “muscles”, just as lifting weights strengthens you physically. At first, you may produce a lot of gibberish, but in time, your writing will become more focused; you may discover subjects in your free writing that are important to you and that you may want to write about in more detail.
Remote Help Desk´s last blog ..Importance Of Help Desk Outsourcing And A Thing To Consider