Are you feeling sick? If you feel like your body is fighting something off, then you may already know about the standard routine for overcoming sickness. Do you know what you shouldn’t do when you’re sick, though? Here are some things you may want to avoid doing when recovering from an illness.
Don’t Take It Lightly
Coming down with sickness may not be the end of the world, but it isn’t something to sneeze at, either. You want to put your best foot forward when it comes to managing your illness so that you can get better quickly. Do whatever it takes to understand the ailment, and then take the necessary steps to help your body deal with it.
Don’t Eat Junk Food
It may be tempting to pop open a bag of potato chips or munch on chocolates, but those aren’t the best things to eat when you aren’t feeling well. Greasy, salty, and sugary foods may taste and smell great, but they don’t help your body handle the microscopic invaders. Instead of junk food, aim for healthier alternatives such as chicken soup, orange juice, and vegetables. Throw in an immune support supplement with your meal for good measure.
Don’t Get Out of Bed
One of the worst things to do while you’re sick is avoiding rest. Your body needs to rest to get better! Stay in bed with orange juice, chicken soup, and a good book or your favorite show to help pass the time. Your body will be able to conserve and use energy to fight off the infection while you sleep. You will also confine your illness to your location without needlessly risking the health of innocent bystanders.
Don’t Forget To Take Your Medicine
Although you don’t always need to take medicine for your illness, it does help ease the symptoms. Cough medicine can help relieve some of the pain in your throat, mitigate a runny nose, and help reduce a fever. If you do start taking medication for your illness, be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle for best results; missing a dose may mean feeling worse as time goes on.
Don’t Sneeze Toward Other People
If you’re sick with a cold or flu, then you’re highly contagious and risk passing on your illness to those around you. Rather than sneezing toward another person, do so into a disposable tissue instead. If there are no tissues available or you can’t reach one in time, opt to sneeze into the fold of your elbow, then clean it up with an anti-bacterial wipe or soap and water. Lastly, do not sneeze into your hands if you can avoid it!
Don’t Go to Work or School
Society has built-in sick days for a reason! Whether you’re working full-time or still in school, your institution will have provisions for sickness, should the need arise. A school may excuse an absence with an accompanying doctor’s note (or parent’s note for minors), and a workplace may have paid sick days or paid time off (PTO) for such occasions. Take advantage of these features and call out as soon as you feel under the weather!
Don’t Avoid the Doctor
You may not need to see a doctor if you can get out of your bed or see clearly, but it is a solid option if you want to recover from your illness at a faster rate. A doctor can diagnose you, give instructions on how to recover, and prescribe the exact remedies you need. Don’t be afraid to call your primary physician for an appointment to get checked out.
You may not know exactly what to do while you’re sick, but at least know what not to do! At best, you should aim to contain the illness without spreading it to other people. All else being equal, avoiding other activities can certainly help you get better that much quicker. Keep these tips in mind the next time you’re running a fever or coughing incessantly.
