Working while sick...

[Mike Boeh]

Today is the first day in over a week that I don't have a fever. I don't get sick often, but when I do, I am completely unable to work. All I can do is barely take care of tech support emails.

Are you guys able to work while sick? And if so, how do you do it?

[Fabio]

Hi Mike,
when (fortunately rarely) I get fever, for me it's hard to remain concentrated, but it's also hard to stay in bed doing nothing, so usually I read technical books or, when I get sick of that too, I put myself under the covers and then ideas start flowing, so from time to time I emerge and use my notebook (meant as the paper thing, not the computer.. too tiredsome even to boot :) ).

Congratulations for ending that sickness period.. health is really among the most important things in life and this is best noticed when it's not in full shape. :)

[DanMarshall]

I worked while really sick over Christmas. It was a bad idea. It made me feel worse, and whatever coding/ artwork I did wasn't to a particularly high standard. I say avoid. Watch Neighbours with a cup of tea instead.

On an unrelated note, I looked at my profile for the first time in ages yesterday. It seems I joined the forums a year ago today, which I think justifies letting off a little cyber-party popper and having a small glass of champagne.

[Fabio]

Congrats, Dan. :D

[revve]

I find I work best while sick. As long as I don't have to take meds that makes me drowsy or have something that makes me run to the lil boys room too frequently, I'm completely in my element. Plenty of fluids, relaxing in bed with notebook on my lap.....

Seriously though - I was violently sick a while ago - didn't have my notebook with my, so I dragged my desktop to my bedroom, right next to my bed - I was more productive than ever before.

[Savant]

Plenty of fluids, relaxing in bed with notebook on my lap.....
Chestnuts roasting. Sounds great! :P

[Gilzu]

There are times where you simply can't work. Your body is already working hard on fighting the disease, so why not rest a little? or at least make your work more... recreational.

I was sick about a week ago. I decided to take this time and downloaded about 10 demos from the same genre of the game i'm about to do - You can call it "market research" if you wish :D. This way, you don't push it too much, you have fun, see who your competitors are and get inspiration for your own game.

I stopped at the 6th demo, and returned to the classics that made me want to make games. Even (or especially) when I feel bad, playing them always bring a smile to my face.

here's one for you guys (http://www.glenrhodes.com/flashkeen/tilegame.swf)

[electronicStar]

I would have to be very sick to not be able to work on the computer.
Actually I generally work better when I'm sick because the rest of my body is anesthethized.
I don't remember being so sick that I couldn't use the computer.

[GBGames]

If I have a fever, especially a nasty one, I drink a lot of water and sweat it out in my sleep. I might be in bed for almost a full day, but I usually feel fine afterwards.

Now a cold, on the other hand, is frustrating. No amount of orange juice, sleep, or food seems to allow me to breathe out of my right nostril or prevent my lips from getting chapped. Yesterday sucked.

[Savant]

I think the discussion is more about the difference between "using the computer" and "working effectively". Yeah, we can all code when we're sick - but should we? As Dan posted, you generally write crap anyway because your head is cloudy and have to rewrite it all later.

[papillon]

It depends on the kind of sickness.

If I'm just in certain kinds of pain, then I actually find it easier to deal with by getting on with a very focused task (like art) where I won't notice that I hurt.

If my head is full of fog, I'm not going to bother trying to code. Even if I don't screw up, if I'm not in my right mind while working I won't properly remember what I did later. Spending time watching TV, browsing art, or playing other games might help my spaced-out brain to have brilliant inspiration instead!

[digriz]

I never work when i'm sick, it's better to relax and just get well again. trying to work while you're ill will just make you feel worse.

Something i've been doing for a few years now is to get a yearly flu jab from the doctor...I haven't had a flu for a long time. It's not a total fix but it stops you getting wiped out for a week here or there. If you're self employed this can be quite important.

Of course, with mike pretty much being the only person who can do his tech support emails, i guess it's pretty much a case of having to get on with it.

Glad you're feeling better though Mike.

[jankoM]

I work..... ups. I thougth the title was "working like sick" so I thougth I could tell some stuff :) .

Otherwise.... I noticed that I don't get sick if I don't have time. When I was still working in some company I usually got sick only when it was friday and got normal on monday. My wife has (this happened more than once) gotten winter flu exactly when she had a week off from work. Last 5 years that I work on my own I (and had worked all the time) I actually didn't get flu (except once I think - hard one).... or maybe that was because I allmoast didn't get out of the hose in those years :confused:

I think I don't work if I am sick ... at least I don't do much.

[Raptisoft]

Tsk... just cure any sickness by raising your blood alcohol level.

[Sirrus]

If I have a fever, especially a nasty one, I drink a lot of water and sweat it out in my sleep. I might be in bed for almost a full day, but I usually feel fine afterwards.

Now a cold, on the other hand, is frustrating. No amount of orange juice, sleep, or food seems to allow me to breathe out of my right nostril or prevent my lips from getting chapped. Yesterday sucked.

Ever try using a NetiPot? Sounds wierd, but 'nasal irrigation' can really help. They have em at drug stores. Or google it.

[lennard]

I've often worked sick - it's a really bad idea for me as I've often made myself sicker.

My recommendation, watch hockey on TV while bundled or go to the library, get an unabridged audio tape (just enjoyed Wolves of the Calla recently) and enjoy some time away.

[DFG]

I usually don't work. If support emails go unanswered, when I finally get to them I apologize and explain the situation. I find people are forgiving for the most part.

[Artinum]

Generally I work slower when ill. I do minor, little-brain stuff I can do in my sleep anyway.

I have a clear memory of some years back, suffering with the flu (the real thing, not just a bad cold - shivering and wrapped up in a duvet while simultaneously sweating and hot, massive headache yet unable to keep even paracetamol down, unable to sleep yet somehow sleep and wakefulness blur together in a sense of unreality... it was not pleasant). At the time I was helping out a friend with his project by lining up blocks (getting rid of any joins). I remember doing this on the computer because I needed to do something or I'd go mad.

Ah, memories. Back in the days when I had no car, no job and no thoughts about how the hell I get onto the property ladder.

[Greg Squire]

For me it depends on how sick I am. If it's just a mild cold I'll try to push through it and deal with it (though I'm still not too productive). If it's the flu or a severe head cold (to the point where my mind is "cloudy"), then I try to get some "bed rest" to give my body some time to "fight it off". Lots OJ, Grapefruit Juice, and Chicken Soup seem to help my colds some. Also, Zicam (http://www.zicam.com/) (if started early enough), seems to help shorten my colds too.

[Grey Alien]

I don't like doing complex stuff when ill and often I can feel tired or demotivated so I take it easy. Sometimes I can be ill and work perfectly though, like I said just depends if my brain is fuzzy/tired or not.

[impossible]

I was extremely sick a few weeks back. I made the mistake of going to work on the Friday I got sick. I got some work done, but I think I got more sick because of it.

Of course, that night I kept having crazy dreams\hallucinations about game designs and an extremely complex game engine, so maybe sickness can actually help you :).

[Mr.Blaub]

I'm a hermit. I don't need to blame anyone but those who come into contact with me when I get sick.

That said, I really need to get a life.

Just, one more, line, of code...

[arcadetown]

I've learned how to work when I'm sick, day, night, holidays, tipsy, you name it. Not sure how it happened as a few years back no chance. Now I can write darn good code even when blithering drunk (not sure if that's good or bad).

[Anthony Flack]

I guess that means you can drink all the time now.

[Polycount Productions]

Hi Mike,
when (fortunately rarely) I get fever, for me it's hard to remain concentrated, but it's also hard to stay in bed doing nothing, so usually I read technical books or, when I get sick of that too, I put myself under the covers and then ideas start flowing, so from time to time I emerge and use my notebook (meant as the paper thing, not the computer.. too tiredsome even to boot :) ).

Congratulations for ending that sickness period.. health is really among the most important things in life and this is best noticed when it's not in full shape. :)
I'm with Fabio here... I too won't go near computer but will read game related books & printed articles and sketch ideas & plan business etc.

[digriz]

Tsk... just cure any sickness by raising your blood alcohol level.

So simple and yet so effective!

[Graeme]

I'm a big believer in the philosophy that your actions effect your mood even more than your mood effects your actions. For example: You're not smiling because you're happy, you're happy because you're smiling. Similarly, if I stop acting sick, I stop feeling sick.... well, I feel less sick at least. There's no reason pain or discomfort has to cramp your style.

I run for my university's track team and I got whooping cough a few years back, but I never missed a pratise in the 4 months I was had it.... sure I threw up in the garbage can every day, and struggled to breathe, but I felt just as great as I would have if I didn't have any sickness at all. If had been laying in bed at home, I'd feel aweful.

[Artinum]

You're not smiling because you're happy, you're happy because you're smiling.

I've heard of this theory and I'm not convinced. I'm often happy without smiling (such effort moving those muscles!) and smiling without feeling is a common social skill - indeed, in some cases expected.

One lesson I took a little longer than most to learn when I was younger is that when someone says "how are you" they don't really want to know.

People are very silly sometimes.

[Graeme]

I've heard of this theory and I'm not convinced. I'm often happy without smiling (such effort moving those muscles!)

Well, I guess everyone's different then because I have this dumb smirk on my face pretty much 24/7 and I can't get rid of it even if I try :D <-- that's what I actually look like right now!

[Anlino]

Lucky bastard:D People think i am unsocial just because i never smile - for good reason. I look like the Joker when i try to put on a happy face - making everyone in my surroundings take a step back.

[Kestral]

I work very well when I am sick, as long as the IMs and emails and phone calls arent interrupting me much. I can bear the interruptions when I am well, but when I am sick it just frustrates. If I can, I shut all that down and focus on the one task and I am productive.

[soniCron]

I've heard of this theory and I'm not convinced. I'm often happy without smiling (such effort moving those muscles!) and smiling without feeling is a common social skill - indeed, in some cases expected. I think the point is that you have some level of control over the way you feel, both emotionally and physically. And this is largely true. How many of you are going to wake up one morning of the GDC all hungover? Now, how many of you aren't going to go just because of a stupid little headache some some projectile vomitting? Of course you're gonna go! You'll welcome the challenge! Now, what if you had to go flip burgers instead? How would you feel then? You're equally sick both ways... :D

[robleong]

I usually keep going to work even when I'm sick. With a simple cold, it's easy to continue working even if you cough and sneeze from time to time - my concentration wasn't really affected. I only had to go home once when I had the flu and tried to work that day but I was having rigors and feeling nauseous.

However, if I had known better, I would have stayed at home as it really wasn't worth it struggling to work when you're sick, because in reality, nobody appreciates your efforts, and your co-workers will certainly not appreciate you coughing and sneezing in front of them.

In my current job, we have 5 extra days that are built into our vacation to take into account sick days. So, instead of the usual 15 days vacation a year, we all have 20 days vacation a year, but will have to use these if we take sick days. I like this system better than a 10-day sick-day quota a year that you can take if you're sick, because I find some people just come up with excuses and take all of these days, while because of my stupidity or mistaken-righteousness, I didn't take any!!

[Indiepath]

I do try to work when I'm sick since the business won't run itself. I suppose one day I'll be able to call myself and give myself a day off, I might even pull a sickie :D