You’re technically home but today, you’re off.
Working from home blurs lines. You’re expected to reply, be “on,” and handle things even when you're not at your best. But today, you called it. You sent the Slack message. You turned off the camera. You're still home, but not working and it feels strangely unfamiliar. This scenario captures the quiet discomfort and relief of taking a sick day when you live where you work.
7:48 AM: Alarm goes off. You’re still in bed, already deciding.
8:12 AM: You send a “not feeling well” message and log off everything.
10:33 AM: You sip broth while wrapped in a blanket.
1:17 PM: You glance at emails, then close the tab again.
3:49 PM: You fall asleep mid-show, and that’s okay.
Home Office Corner
Overview: Usually your zone of focus, now just background.
Landmarks: Powered-off monitor, desk lamp left on, coffee mug not touched.
Tips: Turn the chair to face away-it's a psychological reset.
Bedroom Setup
Overview: Becomes HQ for the day.
Landmarks: Stack of tissues, half-charged phone, heating pad.
Tips: Don't pretend to multitask. Let the inbox sit.
Overview: Source of warmth and hydration.
Landmarks: Soup pot, mug rotation, scattered tea bags.
Tips: Stay hydrated. Small bites are still progress.
Bathroom Mirror: Where you check your own eyes.
Living Room Couch: Where you drift off unintentionally.
Thermometer Drawer: It beeps too loud.
Streaming Queue: Comfort shows only.
Tissue Box: You relocate it constantly.
Window: Checking the world you’re skipping.
Bathroom Floor: Steam therapy spot.
Front Door: Delivery you barely opened for.
Blanket Nest: Built and maintained.
Curtain: Pulled halfway.
Medicine Basket: Contains ancient expired options.
Trash Can: Slowly filling with used tissues.
Closet: No outfit needed today.
Workspace Slack: Muted and unseen.
Headphones: Used only for quiet music or nothing at all.
Bedside Charger: Lifeline.
Soup Bowl: Microwave’s MVP.
Fridge: Uninspiring but crucial.
Online Pharmacy App: Searched but not ordered.
Stack of Blankets: Fort-like and intentional.
Heated Throw: Your best friend.
Thermometer App: Logged the dip.
TV Remote: Held more than your phone today.
Bathroom Fan: White noise comfort.
Do Not Disturb Switch: Mentally and digitally flipped.
Vulnerability, rest, digital boundaries, guilt vs recovery, invisible illness
1. Slack: Status set: “Sick Day”
2. Gmail: Inbox avoided
3. Zoom: You didn’t click it
4. Apple Calendar: No rescheduling done
5. Google Calendar: Event silenced
6. Instacart: Soup delivery, hopefully fast
7. DoorDash: Wonton soup from three miles away
8. Uber Eats: Ginger tea in 30 minutes
9. Amazon: Extra tissues and medicine
10. CVS: Night meds and lozenges
11. Walgreens: Same list, alternate option
12. Apple Watch: Step count stayed low
13. Fitbit: You checked out
14. Healthline: You googled your symptoms
15. WebMD: Bad idea, but you did it
16. TikTok: Soft content only today
17. Instagram: Muted everyone doing too much
18. Spotify: Lo-fi to nap by
19. YouTube: Soothing vlogs or rabbit holes
20. Netflix: Comfort series you’ve already seen
21. HBO Max: Backup options when Netflix felt loud
22. Disney+: Childhood-level recovery mode
23. Audible: Narrated calm through congestion
24. Google Keep: Symptoms note-taking
25. Notion: You opened it. Closed it.
26. Apple Notes: Where you wrote “tea, soup, sleep”
27. Trello: To-do list untouched
28. Canva: That slide can wait
29. Apple Wallet: Used for contactless delivery tip
30. Venmo: Someone brought meds, you paid back
31. ZoomCare: Telehealth consult from bed
32. MDLIVE: Considered, then took another nap
33. Therabreath: Dry mouth defense
34. Halls: Cooling relief, cherry flavor
35. Mucinex: You hope it kicks in
36. DayQuil/NyQuil: Cycle of choice
37. Tylenol: Still works
38. Chewy: Pet still needed to be fed
39. Google Docs: Work stayed open in a tab
40. FaceTime: Declined twice
41. Reddit: r/sick or r/chill
42. NYTimes: Science section bookmarked
43. Nextdoor: You checked if it was going around
44. OpenTable: Canceled dinner plans without guilt
45. Google Translate: Medicine instructions decoded
46. Apple Pay: Tipped the driver from bed
47. Pinterest: Soup recipes, not attempted
48. LinkedIn: Didn’t touch it
49. Substack: Read someone else’s burnout story
50. YouTube Music: Nature sounds playlist
1. CVS: NyQuil, tissues, and a heating pad.
2. Target: Soup cans, socks, and a hoodie.
3. Amazon: Weighted blanket and lozenges.
4. Walgreens: Digital thermometer, tea bags.
5. Grocery Store App: Chicken broth, lemon, ginger.
6. Starbucks: Mobile order tea with honey.
7. 7-Eleven: Sports drinks, crackers.
8. DoorDash: Soup from your favorite Thai spot.
9. Dollar Tree: Tissues, backup thermometer.
10. Gas Station Mart: Gatorade and cough drops.
• Tissues: Soft, and plenty.
• Blanket: Preferably oversized.
• Lozenges: For throat or distraction.
• Tea: Caffeine optional.
• Comfort Show: Background peace.
• Phone Charger: Within reach.
• Medicine: Trusted go-to’s.
• Soup: Any variety.
• Noise Control: Earplugs or white noise.
• Permission: From yourself, to do nothing.
NyQuil (you slept, eventually)
Therabreath (good even when you’re not)
Spotify Lo-fi Playlist (the unofficial sick-day soundtrack)
• Guilt: For not being available.
• Fatigue: Deeper than just tired.
• FOMO: You miss one meeting and it haunts you.
• Isolation: Rest is lonely.
• Slack Anxiety: Unread messages build up.
• Temptation: To check in and keep working.
• Residual Tasks: The pile will be there tomorrow.
• Set Slack to “Out Sick”: Even if you still peek.
• Leave Inbox Closed: It can wait.
• Cancel Obligations: Even if you hate doing it.
• Switch to Easy Foods: Don’t overdo it.
• Stay Horizontal: Let the rest be full.
• Use Headphones Lightly: Volume low.
• Skip the To-Do List: Guilt doesn’t heal you.
• Block Recovery Time: Don't sprint back to normal.
• Ask for Help: Someone will bring soup.
• Lower the Bar: Ease into the next day.
• Reflect, Don’t Regret: You needed it.
• Normalize It: For you and others.
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