Today, a friend told me that she is swamped with work because she took two off for sick days. I have heard this sentiment before. Someone will say, “I took a week of vacation, and now I’m inundated. . . .” I am not sure if this is a Northeast thing, an issue associated with capitalism, or both. But it is fucking lame.

We punish ourselves with anxiety and superhuman efforts after we take time off from work. However, we earned that free time. [Most often] We’re not playing hooky and faking a cough so we can lay on the couch and watch Family Feud and The Price is Right (though we might do so more frequently if Bob Barker was still the host). Instead, we are sick or cashing in on vacation time. Therefore, our absence for a day or week does from the workplace not constitute a transgression against the employer.

So stop killing yourself after a needed break from work. The job–whatever the craft–is not worth the mental and physical stress we impose on ourselves. The tasks will be there tomorrow and the next day and the next day.