Winter sickness tips, tricks and tools
You've landed in a cold. Now it's time to give yourself some much needed support.
This isn’t a spread of suggestions aimed at not getting sick. Instead, we’ve arrived in the - I’m sick help me move through this my brain is not working - space.
The onset of a cold or flu can make us feel foggy and overwhelmed as we operate well under our ideal baseline. In these moments, the ability to look after yourself properly is both necessary and nonexistent. All the things you could or should do to help healing along don't spring to mind as easily as when you’re at your usual healthy baseline. The irony!
Sometimes, we need gentle, practical reminders of what can help, so we can move through the sickness conundrum without, say, wallowing in it. I’ve spoken to so many recently who have had waves of sickness in their families. Here’s some at home support tools:
- At the first hint of sickness, double down on it, don’t push through. Use the sick day, schedule childcare if it’s available to you, get an early night, stay warm. Don’t deny the reality and wait until the cold triples in size before you crash.
- Eat easily digested, cooked, cosy foods. A few of mine are: Steamed carrots drizzled with olive oil or butter; congee (rice+broth+warming spices+soft veggies) with poached chicken; a cup of chicken broth; a bowl of cut orange. We want to leave plenty of room and space for the body to put all its energy into healing.
- For the standard cold, stay very, very warm, almost to the point of flushed. Socks on, hot water bottle across the abdomen, wool layers.
- Fluids! I like to make these mostly warm beverages. Hydrating properly helps to move toxins through the body and keep the flow going during a time when we’re typically in bed, or anchored to the sofa. I like to have lots of different fluids to keep things interesting. Broths, hot water with slices of fresh ginger loitering in it, coconut water. I’ve found coconut water for kids is great, they love the natural sugars.
- Give in, and rest. We have all been the one who pushes on through. But the reality is that symptoms usually linger for longer if you push on. Letting go, allowing yourself to be unwell and leaning into it feels counter intuitive, especially if others rely on you, but proper rest will get you back to a healthy baseline faster.
- If possible, we want to save difficult conversations or moments of potential conflict for after we’re back to our usual beat. Tend to your subtle energy, stay away from the news and fortify yourself emotionally.
- For when congestion is compromising sleep, or your sinuses are just generally blocked and nothing is working, the most powerful shift for me personally has been doing an Olbas oil steam bath, morning and night. Fill the bathroom sink with boiling water, whip a towel over your head and steam your way to clear nasal passages.
Sophie’s Marketplace
A few bits and pieces I’m loving right now, maybe you will too.
Source Naturals Wellness Formula. Everyone seems to have their preferred immune supplement they take when they feel a cold coming on, mine is Source Naturals. We *try* to take these daily through Winter, and also buy the liquid version for the kids!
Autumn Sonata toiletry bag. I really like this toiletry bag. Despite the ambitious price tag, it’s filling a strange love and interest of travel-related storage items that aren’t terrible to look at. Fellow aesthetes will get it!
As always, we’re aiming for joy, ease and curiosity. These are my own personal baselines for health on a daily basis. Keep establishing, practising and noticing and I’ll see you back here next week!