There's something about February that just makes me feel blue. The holidays are over, spring is nowhere in sight, and on top of that, work seems to be piling up. I feel like all I want to do is lay in my bed with my head under the covers all day and not come out...hence the irregularity of my posts lately.
I'm a firm believer in babying a sickness. Sometimes you just have to admit defeat, crawl into bed, and let it wash over you for a little while. Personally, I feel that if I try and battle through, it takes five times longer to get back into the routine. Everyone has their own sick day routine, but I thought I'd share some of my tried and true tips for making your down days a little brighter.
1. Cut the caffeine, cut the carbs (within reason, people).
The first thing I get rid of when I'm sick is coffee. When I'm sick it makes me jumpy and upsets my stomach. There's something so harsh about coffee for me, and who wants to be wide awake when you're trying to sleep off a cold anyway? I also like to slow down on the carbs. There's nothing wrong with toast, but I'm not going to stuff myself with a big ol' pasta dinner when I'm feeling bad about myself. Not helping.
2. Boost the vitamins. I'm a huge fan of the Emergen-C packets. They just started making these fabulous Immune Boost pacs and I have to say, I'm hooked. I also drink a lot of green juices when I'm feeling down. Odwalla and Bolthouse Farms are by far my favorite. They're packed with vitamins and also make me feel pretty darn good. I like a liquid diet, especially when I've got the flu, and this certainly fits.
I'm a firm believer in babying a sickness. Sometimes you just have to admit defeat, crawl into bed, and let it wash over you for a little while. Personally, I feel that if I try and battle through, it takes five times longer to get back into the routine. Everyone has their own sick day routine, but I thought I'd share some of my tried and true tips for making your down days a little brighter.
1. Cut the caffeine, cut the carbs (within reason, people).
The first thing I get rid of when I'm sick is coffee. When I'm sick it makes me jumpy and upsets my stomach. There's something so harsh about coffee for me, and who wants to be wide awake when you're trying to sleep off a cold anyway? I also like to slow down on the carbs. There's nothing wrong with toast, but I'm not going to stuff myself with a big ol' pasta dinner when I'm feeling bad about myself. Not helping.
2. Boost the vitamins. I'm a huge fan of the Emergen-C packets. They just started making these fabulous Immune Boost pacs and I have to say, I'm hooked. I also drink a lot of green juices when I'm feeling down. Odwalla and Bolthouse Farms are by far my favorite. They're packed with vitamins and also make me feel pretty darn good. I like a liquid diet, especially when I've got the flu, and this certainly fits.
3. TEA. Tea is one of those things that has the ability to both calm and invigorate me at the same time. One of my more recent sick day traditions is to pull out a fancy, dainty tea cup and saucer and drink from that. My favorite down-day tea is Yogi's DeTox tea. With things like Dandelion Root for the liver and Juniper Berry for the kidneys, this tea makes me feel like I'm doing a whole lot of good with every sip.
4. Make a base camp. There is nothing I hate more than moving when I'm sick. My mother is of the total opposite camp - she is a firm believer that a good trip to the gym will get rid of any dragging feelings or lingering sniffles. I don't work like that. As I mentioned before, I have to baby it or I'll never be able to let it go. So, I set up a base camp with my phone, phone charger, computer, computer charger, tea, full water bottle, and channel changer. A personal favorite for sick days is a good Harry Potter marathon. I don't necessarily watch the movies, but the familiar voices in the background help to lull me to sleep.
4. Make a base camp. There is nothing I hate more than moving when I'm sick. My mother is of the total opposite camp - she is a firm believer that a good trip to the gym will get rid of any dragging feelings or lingering sniffles. I don't work like that. As I mentioned before, I have to baby it or I'll never be able to let it go. So, I set up a base camp with my phone, phone charger, computer, computer charger, tea, full water bottle, and channel changer. A personal favorite for sick days is a good Harry Potter marathon. I don't necessarily watch the movies, but the familiar voices in the background help to lull me to sleep.
5. Keep the lights dim. There is nothing worse than bright florescent lights when you are sick. They make me feel like I'm in a hospital or in the nurse's office back in elementary school. No thanks. When my sister is sick, even a little bit of light coming through under the door in intolerable, but for me a little soft lighting calms me down and helps lull me to sleep better than any sleeping aid.
6. Wash your sheets. One of the many valuable things my mother taught me when I was young was to wash your sheets the SECOND you are feeling better. There is nothing worse than stewing in your own sick bed. I like to wash my sheets, do all of my laundry, tidy up, and vacuum my floor as soon as I am feeling better. It helps me to transition back into some semblance of productivity after a day or two of laying in bed. Today I made my bed for the first time in six days, and personally there is no better feeling after being sick than climbing into a clean, freshly made, nice-smelling bed. Hands down, best medicine you could ever ask for.
6. Wash your sheets. One of the many valuable things my mother taught me when I was young was to wash your sheets the SECOND you are feeling better. There is nothing worse than stewing in your own sick bed. I like to wash my sheets, do all of my laundry, tidy up, and vacuum my floor as soon as I am feeling better. It helps me to transition back into some semblance of productivity after a day or two of laying in bed. Today I made my bed for the first time in six days, and personally there is no better feeling after being sick than climbing into a clean, freshly made, nice-smelling bed. Hands down, best medicine you could ever ask for.