Week 1: Working with a broken ankle
As many of you know, I had quite a bit of travel planned at the end of summer and early fall. I was heading to Phoenix for the GoDaddy Leadership Summit, Orlando for the Recurring Revenue Retreat, visiting my folks for their 69th wedding anniversary, celebrating 30 years of marriage with my husband, and getting my annual trip to New Orleans for the year.
Well, that has all come to a screeching halt with one roll of my ankle. During a last-minute visit to a friend’s annual backyard brunch, I turned my ankle and landed on my ass. Thinking I sprained it, I iced and elevated it all the next day but realized I might be in trouble when I couldn’t bear any weight on it. With a ton of upcoming travel, I got into my regular doctor that Monday, and after a long day of x-rays and waiting, I found out I had a broken ankle.
I sadly had to call my GoDaddy Roadshow comrades and tell them I was out of commission. With a sprain, I had envisioned myself rolling in like Dave Grohl and his iron throne into Phoenix, but with a broken bone, it was out of the question. I shed a few tears, lifted my head, and decided that all I could do was accept my fate. I have 8-10 weeks ahead of me of not walking, rehabilitation after I can walk, and I must give in entirely to my new reality. There is one trip the calendar is accommodating to – WordCamp US. Thank goodness, or the tears would still be streaming.
Regarding opportunity, I can share with others how I cope and adjust over the next few weeks. I have learned so much in seven short days since my ankle roll. Here are just a few lessons I’ve learned:
- Just because you have a desk job doesn’t mean you’ll be able to work regular hours
- Client requests are coming no matter what
- Inquiries are coming in no matter what
- Some clients are not going to understand your situation, and it’s enlightening
- Your family has to pick up your slack
- If you’re a control freak, you have to accept that in life, sometimes accidents happen
- The dog is going to look at you with disappointed eyes all day long
What I quickly understood is best expressed in this quote:
Week 1 has been a lesson in patience.
After a full day at the doctor on Monday and news that surgery is a possibility if my healing is slow, I came home with one goal:
Support healing my ankle, no matter what.
Here are the actions I took in my first week to support my healing:
- I took 48 hours off and laid on the couch with my leg elevated
- I only let those clients immediately affected know what happened to keep calls to a minimum
- I took the pain pills as prescribed
- I drank tons of water, took supplements, and focused on protein and calcium-rich foods
- I ordered a knee scooter on Amazon
- I let friends that wanted to help come by to visit
- I figured out a new bathing routine without a traditional shower
- I tried to wake up early on most days (this didn’t always work out, but I tried)
- I got my crutches out and practiced
- I never put any weight on my broken ankle
- I wrote in my gratitude journal every single morning
- I answered Facetime calls even with messy hair and no makeup
When I finally attempted work, I did so in short intervals and tried different positions and workplaces. I quickly realized that my office would be a tough fit, at least for now, because I can’t prop my leg up high enough under my desk. Working on the couch with the laptop table is tough on my back. My best bet is my kitchen table, where it all started for me.
I finally figured out the best place to work with my broken ankle. It’s the kitchen table where my business started in 2002. #WordPress pic.twitter.com/3cFi3pmsHj
— Cami MacNamara (@webcami) August 23, 2019
Being a successful freelance web designer for me has become more about mastering my habits than anything else. And learning to change those habits when life happens is also a critical part of the journey.
Week 2: https://webcamicafe.com/week-2-working-with-a-broken-ankle/
