Monday, March 30, 2015

How to Feel Better

I hate being sick.

I know I'm not alone in this. Even something as common as a cold is just downright miserable, isn't it? This past weekend I was experiencing a particularly nasty cold. Most of my poor family had gotten it earlier in the week, so I knew that soon enough (despite the vitamins that I was being diligent to take) I would end up with it, too.


For the last few days I've been trying my hardest to battle against this cold with all of my tried-and-true weapons. They made being sick a lot less horrible. Everyone has their own methods of dealing with feeling sick and bleh and gross, but in this post I thought I would share some of mine. Some of these things are incredibly obvious, but I thought it just might be helpful to someone out there. (Hi Someone- out-there! Hi!)

i. Long, Hot Showers. Goodness, am I grateful for showers and hot water! Showers somehow make you feel a lot less sick. It may not cure your cold, but at least you'll be clean and smell like flowers (or whatever your shower gel might be). Remember to moisturize afterwards!

ii. Herbal Tea. I don't usually drink herbal tea - most of the time I much prefer a cup of regular tea or coffee. When I'm sick, though, I head straight for the shelf of herbal teas. It works wonders, I'm telling you. Also, stirring in some honey supposedly helps soothe a sore throat (plus it makes the tea yummier). Personal favorite teas: Twining's Mango and Strawberry and Twining's Blackcurrent and Rhubarb.


iii. Watching happy movies definitely makes you feel better. I always watch Sense and Sensibility (1995) when I'm not feeling well. It's a tradition. Hugh Grant Jane Austen makes everything better.

iv. Radio theatres. Focus on the Family Radio Theatres are some of my favorite things. They are especially nice when you're sick - because you can just lay in your bed, close your eyes, and enjoy a good story. I listened The Secret Garden yesterday (for the billionth time) and it was awesome.

v.  Eating healthy is a good idea. You might think that since you're sick you should "treat yourself" to junky food, but it really doesn't make you feel any better. But healthy food actually does. Healthy food is happy food, right? (an exception to this is chocolate. Chocolate helps everything. Eat up.)



vi. Listening to a sermon is a great thing to do when you're stuck in bed. I had to miss church yesterday, so while my family was gone I made myself a cup (or two) of coffee, laid on the couch with my blankets and pillows, and listened to a sermon from the interwebz. Definitely recommend.

vii. Hang out with your cat. Cats are awesome because they'll just hang out and be lazy with you. Amelia and Alfred thought it was pretty great that they had a person to sleep on all day. If you don't have a cat, borrow a friend's?

viii. Keep your room tidy. It makes you feel better. I realized this after a few days of living in a messy room.

ix. Drink WATER. Stay hydrated, folks.


Do let me know what YOU do to make yourself feel better when you're sick! I MUST LEARN YOUR SECRETS.

love,
Hannah

31 comments:

  1. I HATE being sick. I loathe it with every fibre of my being. I avoid people who have been sick within seven days, I sanitize my hands like crazy when I'm at school, and as much as possible try to open doors with my feet. (no lie.)

    When I'm sick...hm. I allow myself a few treats, like lying around the house watching TV if I want to (usually BBC!) Usually I'm pretty strict about making myself do homework and chores before I indulge, but when I'm not feeling great I kind of throw that out the window.

    I also drink a lot of tea. And take hot showers. And basically everything you said here. (I think I need to borrow some cats!)

    Great post!

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    1. AHHH SAME MAN. Being sick so stinks. You can maybe borrow my cats next time you are sick. ;) Thanks, Olivia!

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  2. These are good secrets, although I already knew half of them. Hot showers. Mmmmm. I use those to help relax me. They're beautiful. I like your movie advice. And the sermons and listening to stories. Those are good advices. I wish I liked tea, but I don't. I should try liking it . . . but I don't think it'll work. Oh well. I'll stick to coffee. Kthanksbye.

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    1. Thanks dear! :) Coffee is a good option too, just do your thing. :D

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  3. Water is good. I've been trying to drink tons of water because of sports, but it's hard. Hot showers is my find of thing, any day, every day. Also, does your cup say "For Narnia"? Chances are it doesn't, but that would be really cool!

    xoxo Morning

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    1. Oh! I wish it said for Narnia, but it actually is a Starbuck's mug that says "California". Hehe, thanks for commenting, Morning!

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  4. I find drinking lots of water can help. Hot showers also make me feel heaps better!

    One of my favourite things to do when I'm sick is to binge watch TV shows. I mean why not!?

    P.S. I just tagged you in The Hobbit tag on my blog. You don't have to do it but I thought you might be interested :)

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    1. Ah, TV shows make everything better. And oh, thank you so much! Sounds awesome!

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  5. Just what I need to hear right now with a slight fever! :P

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  6. i drink lots of water and get sleep. much of it whenever i get sick. i hope you're getting better soon!

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  7. Urggggg! I empathize with you, my friend. I had a really bad cold a few months ago, and just thinking about colds brought back the most unpleasant memories of not being able to sleep, and feeling miserable for the entire night and next day and... Uuuuggggg... I hope you're feeling better soon. This tips are very useful. I will make sure to go through all of these the next time I'm sick. One thing I like to use when I'm sick are essential oils for their medicinal properties. Sometimes diffusing them into the air while you sleep or taking certain ones internally works wonders. Get well soon!

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    1. Oh, you poor thing (even though it was months ago). It definitely is horrible! I am feeling so much better, thank you! I'm so glad you found this helpful. I'll have to look into getting some essential oils! What do you recommend?

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  8. I hate being sick with a passion (unless it means I get to miss school and then I don't hate it AS much) so yes yes yes to all of the above! Even the things as simple as keeping your room tidy is a game changer. It's probably where you're going to be spending most of your time for the next few days so why not keep it clean? ;) get well soon, Hannah dear!

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  9. I hope you feel better, Hannah!! Tea definitely helps. So do Nutella crepes...that's my secret. =) I loooove Focus on the Family Radio Theater!! I've listened to The Secret Garden quite a few times....and Anne of Green Gables, The Hiding Place, Bonhoeffer, Les Miserables, Chronicles of Narnia, Oliver Twist, Little Women...they're all so good!! Also, Cold-EEZE and Vitamin C drops are helpful when you're sick. Get better soon!!

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    1. Oooo...Nutella crepes is the best secret I've ever heard! Thanks for sharing. And YESYESYES I have and love almost all of those radio theatres! They are so wonderful, aren't they?

      Oh yes. Medicine. Sort of forgot that one. *awkward* ;)

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  10. Aww Hannah...I hope you feel better soon. ♥ Hopefully with a combination of lots of sleep, water and hot showers you'll feel better in no time. I miss reading your lovely posts! xx

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  11. Oh Hannah, this is awesome! I too hate being sick- (obviously, I think everyone does) and it's always a bit of a battle to keep my spirits up. You've shared some great tips!

    Haha, I often watch S&S 95 when I'm sick on the couch too. It's such a comforting, sweet, happy, melty-feel-good movie. AND HUGH GRANT. *happy sigh*

    Cats are very comforting too. Whenever I'm sick my cat, Oliver, will come and lay on top of me, which always makes me feel better. :-)

    I haven't listened to many of Focus on the Family's radio theatres, though I did used to listen to Adventures in Odyssey by the hour when I wasn't feeling well. They're definitely a help.

    I hope your cold goes away very soon!

    ~Emma

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    1. I'm so glad you enjoyed this post! S&S is just so great, and Oliver is such a sweet cat name! :) Thanks for commenting, Emma.

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  12. Oh... Get feeling better!! :( I do a lot of these when I feel yucky. Another thing I do when I have a cold is run hot water on a washcloth & lay it on my face. It helps to relax & release some of the sinus pressure.
    I also drink tea!! Haha! But one of my tried-and-true favorites is hot Peppermint tea... It really helps to sooth a sore throat & clears up some congestion.
    My last tip is just to curl up in your fuzziest blanket & read your favorite book... <3

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    1. Thank you, Hannah! Oooo, yes that washcloth thing really works. That's a good one to remember.

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  13. Aw, I hope you feel all better soon!

    xx

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    1. Thank you! I'm pretty much all the way better now - thank goodness! :)

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  14. I am so glad I am not the only person to turn to Jane Austen whenever I get sick! I tend to head toward Pride and Prejudice and then Sense and Sensibility. :)
    It has been a strange year of sickness for my family (me starting it by getting sick for Christmas). My mom found this cure that really helps. I would not share it if it did not work. You take fresh ginger, cut it, and then brew it in water to make a sort of tea. After that, you can add some honey and lemon. The ginger tea by itself burns the throat (not like temperature hot but burning from the ginger), but the lemon actually takes away some of that burning and honey adds sweetness.
    Being sick is definitely no fun. I hope you get better soon!

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    1. Ooo, that remedy sounds really great! I've had lemon/honey tea and it's really helped, but I should definitely add ginger next time. Thanks for sharing, Ekaterina!

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  15. I like this list a lot. I agree with all of them.

    I like reading when I'm sick; well, only if my head doesnt hurt or something. lol. I just like relaxing and not pushing myself. Eating healthy definitely helps. and tea and chocolate and basically everything you said. Oh! Cuddling with my Pooh Bear. That makes me feel better. Great list!

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    1. Yes, same here! Sometimes my head hurts to much to read. Cuddling with teddies totally should have made my list! :D Thanks for commenting, Faith!

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  16. Thanks! Your ideas are great! I need them this week.

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