Feeling Blugh But Can’t Stop?

This week I have had a cold, I have been working and getting on with things, but it is amazing how much we take for granted products without even realising it. For example, tissues, cold and flu remedies and essential oils.

I didn’t think twice about taking cold and flu medicine 3-4 times a day, I used them to help reduce the symptoms to allow me to get on with my day. I used essential oils in the shower to create a steam environment to help with my breathing first thing in the morning to help me start my day.

I was able to get up at my usual time, except I took things slower. I stopped doing my weights for a few mornings to conserve my energy and my usual morning yoga I found gentle practices or did meditations instead. I didn’t want to miss out, just because I had a cold, so I amended my routine to work with my level of energy.

When we get sick, we tend to do all we can to feel better and more often than not, me included, we continue to go about our day to day rather than stop and rest.

Here are some ideas to help when you are sick, but want to continue with your routine:

• Exercise – don’t go full speed ahead, instead, decide if you need to rest your body, or do some gentle exercises instead. For example if you usually do a 5k run, why not go for 15 minute walk. Or instead of going to the gym, do some stretches at home, or miss your yoga class and do a meditation instead. You don’t have to give up completely, just go at a slower pace, reduce the amount of time and do gentler exercises.
• Food – you might not feel like eating, make sure you have plenty veg and protein along with some carbs to help you eat yourself well. If you aren’t hungry eat little and often but don’t just not eat. Your body needs fuel, listen to what it is telling you. It can be tempting to eat comfort food such a chocolate or sweets and cake because it is easier and makes you feel good in that moment. However, I wouldn’t go overboard. Your sugar highs and lows will have an impact on how you are feeling so try to stick to having wholesome meals.
• Water – make sure you drink plenty of water. Make yourself a hot water with lemon and honey, this is great for when you have a cold. It will help to cleanse your body and rid it of toxins. Get some vitamin C, I love blackcurrant juice and when I am ill having a hot cup of it, really helps me. If you can’t face hot water or cold water then go for room temperature.
• Medication – It is entirely up to you if you wish to use medication to help you feel better. There are so many remedies out there, find one you like and suits your needs. Follow the directions and use it to help relieve your symptoms. It is great for helping you to get on with your day and equally to get a good nights sleep.
• Work – if you feel well enough to work, then do so, if you can work from home, then perhaps for a few days you do this, for a few reasons – to stop spreading your germs and give yourself more time as you won’t need to commute to the office. If you don’t feel good and are feeling sorry for yourself, unable to concentrate or do anything productive then ask yourself if you should really be working or would a day off sick help you to get better quicker?
• Be kind to yourself – there is no need for you to be doing something, sometimes a day of lying on the sofa, watching movies or a good box set is all that is needed to help you rest, relax and recuperate. Most importantly, take the pressure off yourself to do what you would usually be doing. Your body and mind need time to rest and recover, so be kind to yourself and listen.

The next time you find yourself ill with a cold or indeed just feeling off, take a moment to listen to what your body needs, don’t push yourself and most importantly rest.

Thank you for reading and have a great week.

Look after you and be well.

Love Emma xx