Being sick is never fun. Depending on how sick you are, it can either be cumbersome or completely miserable. When I get sick (every fall I get strep throat, without fail), it’s usually the latter. I get tired and a bit irritable.
Because of this, I figured out a few hacks for what will make me feel better for when I’m under the weather.
Watch a favorite movie or TV show
I love Disney movies. I grew up watching them and can quote any of them at the drop of a hat. Because I love them so much, I always feel comforted when I have one playing in the background when I’m laying in bed. A few favorites of mine include Finding Nemo, Finding Dory, Bolt (for when I’m in the mood to cry), The Princess Diaries, any of the Disney princess movies, and Peter Pan.
Watching these movies always make me feel like I’m at home with my mom preparing me a grilled cheese sandwich. I always feel better when I have a these movies playing.
Take medicine
Of course this is one of the best ways to feel better. I like to take DayQuil Severe, which is a stronger dosage than the normal DayQuil because it works better for me. I also take NyQuil for when I’m trying to sleep. I find that the liquid versions are stronger, but the pills are better for daytime.
I also take Vitamin C gummies every day, regardless if I’m sick or not. My immune system has fluctuated all over the place since coming to college so I like to keep my immune system up when I can.
There are also natural remedies that can be used if you don’t like taking pills every couple of hours. You can look into them here.
Drink tea
I love drinking tea. It’s amazingly good for you and it’s a healthy alternative to coffee or other ways to get caffeine and it’s comforting. My favorite tea for when I’m sick is Lemon Ginger Tea from Bigelow. I like adding a lot of honey to it because honey is not only the best sweeter for tea in my opinion, it’s also amazing for your health.
When I have a sore throat, I like to have a spoonful of honey before going to bed because it soothes the throat and makes it easier to fall asleep. It also can help calm before sleep! There’s no shortage to the benefits that can be brought on by eating honey.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking water should be the biggest thing! Even when I’m not sick, I like to try to drink at least three Hydroflask 40 oz bottles’ worth in a day to make sure I’m drinking as much water as I can.
When I am sick, I really try to almost double my water intake because water helps so much to clear the toxins. I find that I actually tend to get better sooner when I drink more water than if I were to drink my normal amount.
Limit Sugar
Sometimes the only thing I want when I’m laying on the couch watching a Disney movie with a sore throat is a big pint of ice cream. However, the sugar intake won’t help you get better any quicker and could hinder your progress.
Instead of going for the Ben and Jerry’s, reach for the chicken soup, the Popsicles, coconut water, hot tea, honey, or toast. All of these things will help you get better instead of helping the illness linger around.
These are all the ways that I try to make myself feel better when I’m sick! I hope they help you when you need it.
Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Kaitlin
Kaitlin H Powell 