Desk Lite

A few years ago, I went on a camping trip with some friends. We hiked, we laughed, we drank beer, we took a bunch of scenic photos. You know the usual things you do with pals on a camping trip. It was all harmless fun until one of my friends casually mentioned that we couldn’t post any photos on socials for at least two weeks. They had called in sick to work, even though they weren’t actually sick. They just needed a long weekend away from it all, and they didn’t want their boss to know.

This wasn’t about faking a cough to stay in bed. It was more than that. It was about coming up for air. About doing something that felt like a reset. Something that made them feel human again. And looking back on it now, it makes me wonder if what we often call “taking a sickie” is actually a cry for looking after your mental health.

The word sickie still has that cheeky undertone. Like you’re trying to get away with something. And sure, sometimes that’s probably true. But often, it’s not about being lazy. It’s about life being heavy. And sometimes people don’t need to lie down in bed. They need to feel sunlight or water or strong hands during a massage. They need something that brings them back to life.

Under the Fair Work Act 2009, personal leave isn’t tightly defined. It doesn’t list out all the acceptable illnesses. Instead, it’s broadly interpreted to include both physical and mental health. So yes, legally and practically, mental health is a valid reason to take a sick day.

But we still seem stuck with this image that taking a day off for mental health should look like lying under a doona watching old sitcoms. And if you’re not doing that, then people assume you must be faking it.

Sometimes the best way to recover isn’t to stay home. Sometimes it’s getting out into nature, or taking yourself to a float tank, or sitting by the ocean for an afternoon. Hell, go to a comedy show because you might be needing some laughs to pull you up. That doesn’t make it any less real. That doesn’t mean you’re tricking the system.

This isn’t a suggestion that people start using their sick leave every time their holiday request is denied. That’s not what this is about. But it is about acknowledging that people shouldn’t feel guilty for needing a breather. A real one. One that might involve a little movement, some sunshine, or just something different from the usual grind.

A massage or a camping trip might do more for someone’s wellbeing than another day staring at the ceiling. And when they return to work, they’ll probably be better for it. More present. Less frayed at the edges. Not standing on the verge of burnout.

Of course, if you’re constantly needing a sick day just to survive the week, that points to a different issue. That’s a conversation that probably needs to be had with your team or manager. Because sick leave shouldn’t be the only way you get space to recover from your job.

But let’s stop assuming that every sickie is a scandal. Maybe sometimes it’s just a person choosing to take care of themselves in a way that works. And maybe that looks a little different than staying home with tissues and tea. Maybe it looks like someone finding just enough life to get back on track. And that seems pretty healthy to me.