If your self-worth is tied to productivity, it crashes on sick days. Build it on something a fever can’t take.

An identity built entirely on output has a flaw that shows up the first time your body stops cooperating. Flu, injury, a week where nothing gets finished, and suddenly there is no evidence left that you are worth anything, because the only evidence you ever accepted was work. That is a fragile arrangement, and everybody meets a sick week eventually.

Add one thing to the list of reasons you are fine that does not depend on getting through tasks. How you treat your sister, the fact that you keep turning up for a friend, something you like about yourself. Practise it on a day when you achieved nothing.