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Self Employed: Handling Your Workload When Not Feeling Well

How To Think About Your Workload

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Learning about your health condition and its possible physical and emotional effects can provide a starting point to prioritize your planning. It is possible that you will have periods of full functioning, limited functioning and possibly a need for bed-rest or hospitalization.

Your health care team and other people with a similar diagnosis can give you an idea of what to plan for "just in case." Ask for specifics such as how disrupting an event could be, and for how long. Find out about the effects of your:

  • Health condition.
  • Treatments.
  • Side effects such as fatigue, pain and/or chemo brain.

Review your work schedule and tasks. Keep in mind time lines when various jobs have to be done - including for your most demanding customer/client. Consider such questions as:

  • How much can you do if you shift your work habits? For example, you can generally make phone calls or send text message from a doctor's office, examining room or treatment center.
  • Take a good hard look at the amount of your time your business involves.
  • Consider how much of your brain power and physical ability is required.
  • Look at the historic timing of when work comes in.
  • Think about the timelines required for your work.
  • Keep in mind that as a self employed person, you can work at your own hours. Clients don't need to know when you work. They also aren't likely to know whether you're lying in bed in your p.j.'s with slept-in hair, or sitting at a desk in "business clothes" and fully groomed.

Is there a less taxing way to conduct your business? For example:

  • This may be the time to invest in a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or a laptop computer. These devices can make out-of-the office time more productive and help keep you in touch. These devices may also double as a means to keep your medical information including appointments, contact information, a health diary, a work journal, and questions to ask at a doctor's appointment. These devices can even change time in the waiting and examining room of a doctor's office into work time. They're generally considered to be deductible business expenses.
  • This may be the time to install Wi-fi in your home so you can work in bed as well as at your desk.
  • Can you shift everyday tasks? For example:
    • Use messengers for local deliveries.
    • Buy whatever you need online, including groceries.
    • Bundle purchase of business supplies with other people in your location to save time when and money by not having to pay delivery charges because of the larger size of the order.

If you need help to keep your business going:

  • Where do you need help?
  • What kind of help do you need?
  • What type of person or service could provide the help you may need?

If you decide to bring in help, see Bring In Help If You Need To, below.

For assistance making a plan, as well as for suggestions about people who can pick up the slack, speak with colleagues who have a great deal of experience and with colleagues who have been in a similar situation. For example, contact The National Association For The Self-Employed (NASE) even if you are not a member. Call 800.232.6273 or www.nase.com offsite link. If you have a specific question, you can go to NASE's website, the "contact us" section. In the subject line, type: Business Consultant. Then type your question. Or you can take advantage of such programs as one on shop talk which is offered by NASE.


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