Coming down with the flu last weekend basically RUINED my week. I had some cool family stuff planned, some totally awesome work-related training lined up, a beloved friend in town, and some travel at the end of the week–I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t steamed about having to scrap pretty much all of it.

My days went like so:

• • wake up, feel lousy
  • drink tea, space out to The Voice
  • back to bed to nap
  • repeat cycle until my 8PM bed time

My husband remarked: sounds like a great day, minus the feeling awful part, of course.

Ha Ha Ha.

But actually, the comment got me to thinking. There’s literally NO WAY I would have a day(or more) like that if I weren’t super sick without massive pounds of guilt piled on top of it. It’s not like I don’t take breaks, play on social media, meet a friend for lunch –it’s just typically served with a heaping portion of anxiety and worry on the side. It’s not the first time I’ve wondered if part of getting ill in ways that knock us out is tied in to the go-mode nature of our busy lives and serves as a reminder to SLOW-DOWN.

It got me thinking specifically about a client I’ve actually recently prescribed the homework assignment to of taking a total T-O (time out). She’s a massive do-er, and though is been a big challenge for her, she’s also reaped massive benefit and learning from a couple of days where she only makes time for lying on the couch, staring at the ceiling, reading, walking with her dog–you get the idea. Doesn’t have to be big and fancy, a giant getaway, just a total and complete break.

So of course, now I’m thinking about applying guilt free essential breaks into my life and wondering what benefits better planning for them, dropping the guilt attached would have on things like: my tendency to procrastinate, get stuck creatively, & come up with reasons why I can’t do some of the harder stuff on my plate. Flu Food for Thought.

Listen, I would rather things had gone according to plan and to not have had the flu, but I’m all about trying to find the bright side. I’m alive and recovering, I’ll get to reschedule the training and maybe the timing will be even better. Looks like I’m going to be able to travel on the weekend, and my clients have been generous and kind. Friends and family still love me, and all the work on my desk will keep. But like most things in life, there’s another way to look at it.