Beating the Blues of Being Sick

I don’t know what it is about this year, but I just keep getting sick. Maybe I’m not taking the right vitamins, I’m too stressed, I’ve been exposed to more germs than normal, or my immune system is just weak after the pandemic, but no matter how many times I wash my hands, I still end up catching a cold.

Being sick tends to beat down not only my physical health, but also my mental health too.

While some people might embrace being able to be at home and catch up on Netflix in bed (which I do enjoy, for a short time), I just get restless and start itching to get back into my regular daily school routine.

Here are the top things I like to do to make myself feel better when I’m feeling sick and my mood is low:

1. Finding ways to connect

Catching a cold can also be socially isolating, as you distance yourself from friends and family so as to not get them sick too. As the pandemic winds down, online/remote social opportunities are also dwindling. Calling or texting my friends and family can make me feel less alone while I’m isolated and feeling unwell.

2. Keeping some sort of routine, even if it’s basic

Making sure to get out of bed in the morning and have a shower, brush my teeth, and get some food in me can make a world of difference.

Even if I’m too sick and tired to do much else that day, getting a couple of basic things done in the morning can make me feel like not all is lost.

3. Limiting the screen time

Although being sick is the perfect time to just hunker down in bed and binge watch your favourite shows, which I definitely do, I find when I make some time in the day to read a book, do some knitting, or draw, I feel much happier.

Of course, sometimes you’re just way too sick to have the energy to do this, but when I’m feeling up to it it can give my brain and eyes a nice break from the strain of my laptop.

4. Not pressuring myself to be productive

Image by Anastasia Nelen on Unsplash

As a super busy person, being sick can be frustrating and a bit of a nuisance in my busy life.

I’m working on recognizing that getting sick also might be my body’s way of making me slow down a bit, and honouring that what I need is rest. All the busy-ness of my life can wait until I feel better.

Overall, being sick is not fun, and there’s not much you can do about it usually! However, after way too many colds over the past year or so, I hope these tips might help you too if you’re feeling under the weather. Stay healthy everyone!