We all have those days when the world seems like it’s against us. We look after ourselves, we eat healthily, drink healthy, take regular exercise (ok we move around our home office/craft/shop) but yet somehow we all get sick at some point in our life. Whether it’s due to medical reasons, a bug a going round, caught it off the kids, or its a happy yet sick moment (many mom’s to be will understand), either way it happens and when it does it’s then, we think about how we are going to manage a business, a blog and ourselves all at once.
Having a sick note from your doctor is not a privilege for solo business owners. Whether your sick or not your business and blog needs to look after regardless. If you are lucky enough to have a virtual assistant then a plan of action should be set in place in the event of your sickness.
If like many, you work alone then when sickness comes to knocking at your door only worry, panic and feeling guilty will arise unless you prepare in advance. This is where my prepared plan of attack comes into play called the “Under the Weather Plan“. Plan for it today, forget about it, until it needs to come into play. Control your business even while you are getting better.
Introducing the Under the Weather Plan
Sorting your Blog
When those unexpected days or weeks happen you will be so thankful that you had the “Under the Weather Plan” waiting in the wings.
Being unwell and needing to work will be a horrible experience. I’ve tried it and I felt worst every time I thought of working.
I never had the backup plan I’m sharing with you now but that’s when I thought of the ideal solution.
I wish I had had the energy to actually create the important parts of the Under the weather plan. However with no energy and being constantly tired left my blog untouched for nearly 4 months, as you are probably already aware.
Setting the Plan
Step 1: In the Under the Weather Plan is to create at least 3 posts ready for those unplanned sick days, weeks or months.
Step 2 : Each post will last for at least a week and a half depending on how you feel.
If you happen to use these posts at any time, make sure you replace them with other posts.
Then this is what you need to do with those posts.
Step 3: You type them up and add them to your blog
Step 4: Save them as draft copies and they will stay in this state until the day arises when they are need to be put to use.
When that unplanned day arrives, I hope you are able to muster up enough energy, so you can start up your computer, access your blog and set your posts to advanced scheduled dates. If you are unable to, you can guide a family member or friend to do this for you.
So while you are getting well, your blog and your readers are being taken care of.
OK, you won’t be able to reply to comments or emails, unless you feel a little better. You can explain why you was away when you are better.
Sorting your Business
Now that’s your blog sorted in the case of unplanned sickness, however, for your business, this needs a different approach.
With your business selling products you will need the energy to actually make them. If you can’t do this then you need to let your customers know. This can be in the form of a simple note attached to your homepage.
I use a picture note when it’s the Christmas season letting my customers know when I will be closing and when the next order will be processed and dispatched. You will do the same in the event of your sickness. If you have a lot of products pre-made then, if you can get help when needed to for fill orders then that’s a root you could take.
The thing is when you are unwell only you know how you feel inside and whether or not you can manage to do some work or not. However don’t push yourself for the sake of your business, you need to take care of yourself for the sake of your business.
It’s better to prepare, plan and get well quickly than to push yourself while sick and then it takes you even longer to recover. Which in the long term will only affect you and your business!
The Under the Weather Plan be prepared for those days we are usually unprepared for.
In the comment share what you do when you are feeling unwell.
