Today's blog has been inspired by the sinus-infected-strained-neck-food-poisoned week I have just survived. Oh yeah, it was a whopper. (Thank goodness for a gracious husband, parents who live within driving distance, and PRx pills). All of this was bad enough to endure, but the stress of deadlines looming made the recovery process a little harder than it ought to have been.
I know we've all been there - sacrificing personal well-being for the project due the next day, or the meeting we just "have to be at." But I think for those of us who freelance, for those of us without the security of being on salary and all the rights accompanied with it, the idea of self-sacrifice for the benefit of the project, meeting, or The Man is just a tad bit stronger. Now, when I'm healthy, this drive (partially motivated by fear of disappointing) is great. I get the stories I want and push them to the publications I like. Yet, when a girl is not feeling 100%, this drive can be nothing short of dangerous. 
And that is when a brilliant flash of genius hit me, right in the middle of convulsive shaking and just short of losing consciousness, on Monday afternoon.
"I am my own boss. My health comes first!"
Post this mantra on your fridge, Sharpie it on the mirror, tattoo it on your hand - whatever it takes to help you remember this one simple fact: a sick, tired, drained employee is an unproductive employee. And as a freelancer, nothing could be more true.While shivering under layers of blankets, hoping to get warm, I kept thinking "Man, I have the article due today. Zach (my fabulous editor at one of the local dailies I write for) is counting on it. I can't let him down!" But I could barely see straight, let alone have the presence of mind to write up a full-fledged features piece. So, I gathered what little energy I had, and emailed him my plight. Then, I shut off my laptop, and tried to fall-asleep, the consequences be damned. That's right, I channeled my inner Rhett Butler.
But, unlike Rhett Butler, we can't all be rogues all the time. So before shouting this new battle cry, make sure to follow these rules:
- Make sure you have a reputation of trustworthiness and reliablity with your team/editor/manager. If they know you have always delivered before, without hiccups or problems with late deadlines or shoddy quality, then the one or two times you do have to push a deadline, they'll know it really is for a very good and plausible reason. They will be less inclined to question it, and therefore your character.
- Use the "Sick Day" card sparingly. If people have the perception you always "flake out" when the pressure is on, you'll soon find yourself with fewer and fewer clients/projects to work with.
- Take responsibility for your life, and be honest with yourself. Unexpected things happen - the Flu, food poisoning, colds, etc. . .- but if you know that every May you have terrible allergies, just as an example, that prevent you from keeping up with your normal work load, then lighten it up. Or, tell your team ahead of time that you might not be as available during that time because of these severe allergies. This way, everyone can prepare, and you come off looking like the responsible, dedicated, professional team-player that you are.
- Prevention is the best medicine. If you have access to the Flu shot, why not take it? Try and get plenty of sleep, eat your fruits and veggies, etc. . .Not only will you keep illness at bay, you'll be performing at your body's optimized peak. You'll be a fine-tune machine, my friend!
How does my little story end? To my delight, upon waking several hours later (sweaty and aching), Zach had emailed me back with these words: "No problem. Get well soon - I don't really need the story until Wednesday." Surprsing as at it might have been to my ego and the Type-A task manager living in my mind, the world had not fallen apart because I decided to put myself first, for once. In fact, things were actually starting to look better. By Tuesday morning I was feeling well enough to work from home, and sent him a tight, flashy, polished piece by that afternoon.
As it turned out, I was ahead of deadline :)