Tips for When You’re Feeling Under the Weather

After the holidays, when we start to decompress from all the family time and travel, colds start to pop up all around you. Do you feel like everyone around you is getting sick?

For myself, I try to do everything in my power to not get sick this time of year. Here are some helpful tools to help prevent getting sick, ways to shorten the length of being sick, and, ways to help others around you who are sick.

Tips to Help Prevent Getting Sick

• Make sure to wash your hands with soap after being in high-traffic areas like the bathroom or office breakrooms.
• Disinfect high-traffic surfaces in your home like doorknobs or the handle of the refrigerator.
• Take vitamins like vitamin C, zinc, or a multivitamin to give your immune system a boost.
• Get your flu shot in the fall to help lessen the likelihood of getting the flu this season.

Tips to Treat or Shorten Sickness

• The number one way of treating common sicknesses like a cold is to rest. Let your body do the things it needs to do by resting. If you need to take a day or two off from work, do it!
• Drink lots of water to help stay hydrated.
• Keep yourself nice and warm indoors and outdoors.
• Running a humidifier to add moisture into the air can ease sore throat and coughing.
• Eat light foods like soups to keep you warm but not upset your stomach.

Helping Those Around You Who Are Sick

• Give them space and time to rest.
• Make them tea with honey to help with sore throat.
• Support them in the house or at work by taking on a task or two to lighten their load.

Getting sick is never fun but we can all take steps to lessen exposure and increase comfort when sick.

Learn more about health and wellness benefits.

By Hailey Koenen, LiveNOW Health and Wellness Coach