It's taken me awhile, but I think I've finally learned to listen to and trust my body.
A few weeks ago, while in the midst of our total market coverage (TMC) editions, which are sent to every residence in the town I cover, I started to feel rundown but I pushed it aside in an effort to get all my work done. TMC weeks are, arguably, the biggest editions of my paper each year; this year, because our back-to-school edition was the week following TMCs, I had three super-stressful weeks at work. Like always, the second the stress subsided, I was walloped. It took just three days for a cold to set in.
In the past, if I was sick during the workweek, I'd power through and "rest" on the weekend. I always feel like as a reporter, I have a responsibility to my paper, to work as hard as I can to put out the best-quality publication as I can. But in the past, when I tried to work through the sickness, I'd been sicker, longer. Today, I didn't think twice about taking the day off from work to rest — and boy did I need it!
Growing up, my mom always made me spend the day in bed whenever I was home sick from school. I always hated being cooped up, but I now officially understand the value of my mother's wisdom. I spent today on my couch after waking up at my usual time and, although I wasn't doing anything strenuous, I felt exhausted fairly quickly. Whenever those moments hit me, I would close my eyes to rest/relax, and ended up falling asleep for over an hour each time. Now, although only dinner time, I feel more refreshed and alive than I have in days. I have no doubt I have my mom to thank for this.
Never again will I put my job before my health. I love what I do (and I do it well), but I realize I'm not doing anyone much good by going to work in the cloudy fog of sickness like I have these last few days. I know I don't always listen to my mother's pearls of wisdom, but perhaps I should. After all, if this is any indication, mother knows best.
No comments:
Post a Comment