I was on the bus today when I looked down at my hands and realized that for the first time in years I had been biting my nails. That's a pretty good barometer of how much is going on in my life and how badly I need to take a step back and take a deep breath.

Now that I have a new job, I'm actually working all day. This is quite a contrast to my last job, where I frequently had nothing to do. I would spend hours investigating the best happy hour in San Francisco at CitySearch.com, or take care of bills at my desk. Once or twice I wrote my Lipstick column while I was sitting at my desk. To be fair, I wasn't the only one with nothing to do; the whole company was in its death throes and everyone got laid off the month before Christmas.

Now it's a different story. I love my new job as a writer for a large bank's Web site, but it's quite an adjustment to have to manage on far less free time than I had before. I'm making more money, but I no longer have the time to do the things I enjoyed when I was bored, unproductive, and broke. As well as a new job, I'm planning my wedding and trying to keep on top of things like laundry and bills. It's time to take some time back for myself.

This is what I decided today when I saw the lovely nails I had been grooming for my wedding so sadly bitten off in their prime. I will not be a slave to my job. If I have to take a day off once in a while in the coming months I will. I will call in to work and tell them I'm sick. This might be to shop for the perfect wedding shoes, look at wedding bands with Eric, my fiancé, or just take a day to relax. I will only get married once, I hope, so I have to make sure that I enjoy every minute of it, and that includes the months leading up to the big day.

It's easy to believe that you're indispensable in your job, but what's really indispensable is your sanity and peace of mind. Every couple of months, it's good to wake up, feel healthy and rested, and call work to say you won't be in. Use the day to read the paper and sip coffee, instead of bolting a cup and running for the bus. Take a walk or go to a matinee, enjoy the delicious feeling of playing hooky.

The next day, you'll go to work with a little more pep after your mini weekend, and you'll be far more productive. At least that's how I'm going to justify calling in sick when I'm perfectly well.