Hard as you may try, or will yourself, to keep from getting sick, it happens on occasion. When you find yourself beat and reaching for a box of tissues, keep in mind some of these suggestions.
-Set your intention on getting healthy and not your illness or the discomfort you might be experiencing.
-Focus on feeling better—not worse—in your thoughts, words, and actions.
-Be still and breathe. If you are stuffed up and cannot breathe in a soothing fashion, breathe as best you can and visualize yourself in a comfortable environment breathing long, smooth, and deep.
-Do a few spinal flexes, life nerve stretches, neck rolls, and spinal twists. This will help limber up the muscles, move out any gunk that has gotten stuck due to a slowed metabolism, and will get a little circulation going through your body.
-Take a shower! Firstly, the steam will open up blocked nasal passages and the warm water will loosen up tightness and sore muscles. Secondly, when you begin getting sick and progressively feeling worse, typically things like hygiene, combing your hair, and changing out of your pajamas take a back seat. Refreshing yourself with a shower allows you to both clean up and take a proactive role in feeling better.
-For a few days, remove any unnecessary, or cancelable, commitments from your schedule. If you are lucky enough to have paid sick time at work, do not feel guilty taking advantage of that. Sometimes your body just needs to check out for a bit. Also, your coworkers will appreciate not hearing you sneeze, cough, blow your nose, or feeling like they are breathing in the germs you are expelling.
-Hit your fridge and pantry for food remedies. Employ the immune boosting benefits of cooking with onion, garlic, ginger, spices, and chili. As for what to do with these ingredients, how about mixing them up to concoct a few servings of soup along with whatever you might have lying around—veggies (fresh or frozen), broth, rice, pasta or quinoa, a protein (tofu, chicken, beans), and, if you are feeling adventurous, a peeled and chopped up Granny Smith apple?
-Drink your water. Once you get sick of plain water, cut up citrus fruits, cucumbers, melon, or berries, and drop into your glass. Even if your sense of taste is on vacation, fruit makes for a pretty drink and that alone can lift your spirits.
-Make hot herbal teas (with your favorite sweetener) your partner in crime for a few days.
-Keep your lip balm handy for those few days when you become a mouth-breather and your lips become dry.
Miserable as you might feel, your illness will pass and you will become a functioning member of society once again. Until that happens, and to help speed it up, give your body and brain a break, and allow yourself to rest, take in healthy foods, and think good thoughts.
