Sick? Here Are Some Things That May Help You Feel Better
Written by Leslie K. Hughes
Medically-reviewed by Dr. Monique White-Dominguez
As much as you may strive to stay healthy and not get sick, it’s inevitable that, at some point, you are going to come down with something. There are just too many germs and opportunities to get sick for you to get off scot-free all the time.
And when you do get sick, it’s probably not going to be much fun. Getting sick is never something we would deem as “fun” (except, maybe, the not-working part). However, there are some things that you can do to make your sick time better.
Listen to your body
Whether you’re sick or feeling great, it’s essential to listen to your body. However, when you get sick, that becomes even more important. If your energy is low, rather than fight to stay awake, just succumb to the exhaustion and let yourself sleep. In order to get well, your body needs extra energy, and one of the best ways to get that extra energy is by catching some extra zzzs.
Phone a friend
If you’re feeling so sick that you can’t bring yourself to make food, pick up a prescription, walk your dog, and more, it’s time to phone a friend or family. When you’re sick, don’t expect yourself to be the typical version of you that can easily tackle all those things in one day. If there are things you feel you physically and mentally cannot handle while sick, it’s okay to call on help from others. Just be sure to return the favor when they may be in need.
Don’t work
Unless you have a project or meeting that you absolutely cannot miss, we highly recommend abstaining from working while you’re sick – yes, even if you’re at home in bed. It’s mentally more challenging to work when you’re sick because your body is working overtime elsewhere to get your body back to health. So, you’re more likely to stress yourself out by attempting to work when you’re sick. And that can just perpetuate the sickness.
So, set your emails to “out of office” and just allow yourself to rest. Chances are good that by doing that, you’ll miss fewer days in the office than if you tried to just push through and work.
Stay hydrated
You should always stay hydrated, but hydration is something you absolutely must stay on top of when you’re sick. Try to drink twice as much water as you do on a normal day. For reference, a normal day’s water intake should be half of your body weight in ounces. So, if you weigh 150 pounds, on a regular day you should drink 75 ounces of water. And when you’re sick, try and double that.
Just relax
With all of the distractions we have in the world today, it can be hard to unplug from everything and just relax. But when you’re sick, that's something you should really strive to do. Save your to-do lists, work around the house, or anything else for another day when you’re feeling well. When sick, all of your energy needs to be focused on resting so that you can get better quicker.
Take a hot shower or bath
If you’ve got a bath, then pour in some Epsom salts, some essential oils, and soak in the tub for as long as you can. This can help with the body aches you’re experiencing from your sickness and will also ensure that your stress levels remain low.
If you don’t have a bathtub, a hot shower still works wonders. It has the power to relax and also help decongest.
Eat well
Though your body may crave junk food when you’re sick, that’s not going to help speed up your recovery. It’s best to stick to whole, unprocessed food that can heal your body. Throw in some bone broth and tea for an extra wellness boost.
IV drip therapy
To give your body the surge of vitamins and minerals that it needs to get your immunity back up, consider IV drip therapy. This is the ideal way to deliver health to your body in a time of great need. The vitamins and minerals in an IV are delivered directly into your bloodstream so you get the quickest results possible.
We suggest Sameday Health’s Immunity IV to get you back on your feet. It improves healing time and reduces the length of your illness.
Included in this IV is:
Thiamine (B1)
Niacin (B3)
Riboflavin (B2)
Dexpanthenol (B5)
Pyridoxine (B6)
Absorbic acid (vitamin C)
Zinc chloride
