All productivity and self-improvement tactics go out the window when you're sick
By sick, I mean mentally and physically not at your at least 50%. For the last two weeks, that's how I have felt. It all started with a bad deadlift that popped a blood vessel in my head. I was dizzy for a week and a half and sported a bright red eye that just wouldn't go away. Then, it was allergies. My eyes kept swelling every morning and were unbearably itchy. My dizziness and red-eye went away but now, my eyes are perpetually dry and itchy.
As I reflect back on the past 3 weeks, I haven't gotten work done as fast as I normally could. This is from a combination of mental stress and the physical inability to give 100% of my attention to the task in front of me.
I've tried a bunch of things to ignore my symptoms and try to finish work efficiently-- focusmate sessions, study-with-me videos, and straight raw-dogging it. I have tried time-blocking, planning my day, starting the day with a small workout (which actually helps a bit), and forcing myself to go faster than I am currently. But, I can't get my basic work done efficiently, let alone, push myself to do more. I can barely work more than 3 hours a day (and that includes meetings). My company encourages growth and if everything was ok, I really think I could have been on track to get promoted. I would probably have pushed myself to try doing the uncomfortable things-- start book clubs, heavily get involved in documentation, and take on other leveraged tasks. But unfortunately, it'll take 2 more review periods for that to happen now 😢
I am quite worried that I might get a tough talk from my managers or worst case get fired bc of performance reasons. It's quite unlikely but I've never done work this slowly before. I'm going to a doctor today to deal with my eye issues and I hope things will be better after that. I'm annoyed at myself right now.