I am sick. Bleeeeeh. That is my sick sound.
And since I am achey and stuck on the sofa (or my bed or maaaybe my cozy desk chair), I thought I would blog about my sick routine.
When I am sick, I REST. I think this is the most important part of healing for me. When I get sick, it is really predictable. Personally, I find it comes after a really busy and stressful time. I don’t sleep as much as I should, I am stressed out with this and that, I don’t work out regularly, and my meals are not balanced. This all ends up in a big cold.
I also use the Neti-Pot, at least twice a day. This is a must for me. I usually just get the common cold – the Rhinovirus – so I feel congested and my sinuses feel super swollen. This clears it out and helps me breath – aaah oxygen!
Showering and cleaning happen too. I find that if I am cleaned up, it is easier for me to not feel down in the dumps. The steam from the shower helps soothe my achey airways and I feel like I am priming my system for healing! Plus, no one wants to sleep in sheets that you’ve just coughed / sneezed all over. Gross.
I love coffee. I love coffee every day. But I especially love it when I am sick. I find that the hot acidity of it really soothes an itchy / uncomfortable throat. If I drink enough to make my blood feel electric, it distracts me away from the muscle aches. I also drink a lot of OJ and a lot of water. I live in a desert, hydration is a MUST!
A habit I got from my mom is getting in the sunshine. She told me once that when she was a kiddo, she would try to get some sunshine on her face when she didn’t feel well. I do the same thing today. That usually just means sitting in my backyard for ten minutes at a time. Soaking in the sunshine makes my body, mind, and soul feel better, holistically healing 😉 . PS Florence Nightingale felt the same way!
I also tend to avoid any cough suppressants. Most common products (any -quils out there) just make me feel drugged up and prolong whatever cold I have. No good. I favor expectorants like Mucinex to get stuff up and OUT, vitamins, and that sweet menthol-scented Vick’s Vapo-Rub.
Now of course, if you are sick, the best thing you should do is take care of yourself and see your doctor when needed – none of the stuff I have mentioned above is professional opinion AT ALL! These are just simple things that help me feel better faster. And since I am stuck on the couch, I thought I would share it 🙂
I hope you feel well, have a beautiful day, and enjoy some sunshine.
❤
Courtney
courtneyland 