by Angela Perez
The arctic-blast winter of 2024 is gratingly dragging on, and we’re only about three weeks in. Just yesterday, I shuffled about the house in my ratty terry-cloth bathrobe, coughing and sneezing from a recent case of COVID-19 that just won’t go away. Before this, I’d just recovered from a month-long respiratory illness that left me coughing so much I strained my chest muscles and completely fried my vocal cords. I will say it was nice not being able to talk. Fewer social obligations.
Because I work from home, I never quite rest when I am sick. I always feel that, well, as long as I can sit upright and am conscious, I can do some work. But after six weeks of being ill, down, and out, I realized the importance of allowing my body the rest it needed after grappling with sickness and stress for so long. The demands of working from home, from meeting deadlines to juggling multiple projects, often overshadow our well-being. The revelation struck that constant exertion takes a toll on the body, and balancing work and rest is essential.
I daily ponder the fact that I got sick about a week or two after deciding to cut out alcohol consumption from my life. I was sure that detoxing my body from the holiday revelry would catapult me into feeling good all the time. (I failed to calculate how Doordashing sweet chili hot wings at 10 p.m. once a week might be adding to the toxin levels. But, hey, one vice at a time.) Instead of blissful well-being, a respiratory infection followed. One of my girlfriends, a self-professed health guru, swears that all this endless flu and coughing is my body’s way of purging itself after the poison of alcohol, of letting go of the negative energy that comes with “partying.” She’s right. It was my body’s way of telling me point blank to prioritize self-care: “Cut out all of these boozy holiday get-togethers and late-night shenanigans and stay at home and drink kale smoothies.”
Wellness is a holistic journey that requires mindful choices regarding work and rest. A couple of days ago, I woke up drenched in COVID sweat, hacking and coughing and sneezing my brains out. I indulged in a fifteen-minute self-pity party. I was then determined to go to my work desk and tackle three tasks on my to-do list. Despite my eagerness, my body had other plans. An hour into work, I was exhausted, sweating, sneezing, and unable to focus. I stumbled into the living room, flopped down on the couch, fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, and didn’t wake up until the next day. Once again, I wouldn’t just let myself be sick and rest. Without that rest, winter colds and flu can linger indefinitely.
Although I am still grappling with COVID-19, today feels so much better. So, I allowed myself to create a short list of achievable tasks, balancing productivity with necessary rest. I opened up my computer and started with vigor. I even put on a nice “going to town” outfit and some red lipstick. It felt good to not be horizontal, donning mustard-stained jogging pants and an old grey t-shirt that hadn’t been washed in days. Taking a short nap to recharge, I had a vivid dream. The universe vibrated, thrummed, and hummed around me. Then, the world around me began shaking like an earthquake. And I repeated the same words over and over, “Reboot, reboot, reboot, reboot, reboot, reboot.”
As I comtemplate looking for rejuvenating travel deals, I add it to my “to-do” list today, recognizing that wellness involves a harmonious blend of productivity and self-care. In this endless 2024 winter marked by freezing weather, gallons of phlegm, and sore muscles, the message from the universe is clear: prioritize well-being, and the rest will follow suit. Where’s my suitcase?
