Should I Take a Sick Day?

When your body says “rest,” it’s time to listen.

Let’s face it — deciding whether to take a sick day isn’t always clear-cut. You're not *that* sick, but you're not feeling great either. Maybe your head’s foggy, you're running on 4 hours of sleep, or you're mentally tapped out. So what’s the right move?

This decision is even harder when you're working from home. It's tempting to just "push through" — especially when the bed is five feet from your desk. But pushing through isn't always the healthy or productive option.

5 Signs You Might Really Need a Sick Day

• You feel worse than you admit. If you're trying to convince yourself you're fine, you might not be.
• Your symptoms could affect others. Even if you're remote, contagious symptoms can be a red flag for burnout.
• You’re mentally exhausted. Stress and burnout are valid reasons to rest. Your brain needs downtime too.
• Your sleep tank is empty. If you’re operating on less than 5 hours, your body isn’t ready to perform.
• Your motivation is zero. If you can't even open your laptop without dread, take the hint.

Sometimes it’s not about being sick enough — it’s about being **unwell enough** that you’re not functioning at your best. Taking one day to reset could be the difference between dragging through the week and bouncing back stronger tomorrow.

Still on the Fence?

We built Nap or Not to help you answer that question in under a minute. Just tell us how you're feeling — physically, emotionally, and logistically — and we’ll give you a nudge in the right direction.

Whatever you choose, remember: rest isn’t weakness. It’s recovery.

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