It is tough to take sick time when you are the only employee. There, I’ve said it. I know that many of us thought that sick time wouldn’t be an issue when we started our own businesses–we wouldn’t have to keep track of sick days, or call in to any human resources department when we weren’t felling well. But the fact is, sickness can be an even bigger issue in a small home-based business since we might not take the down time when we need it and there isn’t anyone to cover for us if we “call in sick.”
The reality for most of us is that if we don’t work, we don’t generate income. At least in the early stages of our businesses before we have built up a strong enough operation to keep the cash flow flowing even if we take a day or week off. There might be deadlines to meet and proposals to present and no one to step in for us if we take the day off. That said, there is also the flip side of the coin, if we DON’T take care of ourselves when we get ill, we might get even sicker and there will be no one to run our businesses. I have learned that looking after my health is an integral part of operating my home-business, but I’ve learned a more preventative, self-care approach than I had to when I was just working a more traditional job.
Instead of ignoring symptoms and waiting to see if I get “good and sick,” I have learned that at the first sign of something, or if I’m starting to feel over-stressed and worn out, I need to take heed. It is far better to take a little time and slow things down a bit than to let myself get so sick that I have to stop working all together. My business is definitely one of those where if I don’t work, I don’t get paid and then the bills don’t get paid and the kids don’t eat. That simple. So cutting back on my work hours, paying attention to health and symptoms, and listening to my body are things I’ve had to learn about since becoming an entrepreneur. We may not be able to afford full days and weeks away from work, but we still have to take care of ourselves and not push ourselves beyond the bounds of healthy living.
Also: Are Single Parents More Susceptible to Illness?
Planning for Family Emergencies