It’s cold & flu season and it’s also busy season here at CentsibleLife HQ. It seems like a recipe for disaster every year. The fourth quarter is always the busiest time of year for my work, and also happens to be the time when inevitably someone in the family or I gets sick. Sometimes we even get the dreaded one person at a time illness-where one of us gets better just as another person comes down with something. That’s the worst!
It also means I have no time to get sick. From being busy with my work obligations to the plethora of holidays and birthdays at this time of year I literally don’t have a day off until December.
Being a busy mom and running a business means I have a lot on my plate. From packing lunches to launching products I’m on the go all week long. I have no time for a sick day. That’s why I’ve partnered with Vicks to share ways you can be prepared, and avoid taking a sick day. I’d much rather take a ‘well’ day anyway.
How A Busy Working Mom Survives a Sick Day When She Can’t Take One:
Make a Must-Do List: I always have a mile long to do list, but I make a ‘must do’ list which only includes items that are necessary like drafts that are due that day, edits that need to be made, or crossing off goals like writing 500 words for my book. Everything else can wait.
Take frequent breaks: If you’re not feeling well it’s likely you won’t operate on the same hyper speed we busy women normally do. Instead allow yourself short breaks throughout the day to refocus.
Stay home: I can’t state this one enough. If I’m already feeling miserable I won’t leave home. Not only is it better for my immune system to rest and heal, but also I won’t be getting other people sick. If I have to attend an event I’ll do a wave and let everyone know I’m under the weather so they don’t try to shake hands.
Hydrate, hydrate, and hydrate: I can’t say it enough! Drinking plenty of fluids like water keeps my hydrated and helps me feel better. I prefer hot tea if I have a runny nose or sore throat, but still drink plenty of water as well. I keep a water bottle on my desk to ensure I stay hydrated.
Power through with DayQuil Severe: When I come down with a cold or flu I take DayQuil Severe to help me power through my day. If I have a sore throat I’ll also use a cough drop and hot tea to help soothe my aching throat.
Distract yourself: I admit it I’m whiny when I get a cold. An injury? I can handle that. But a cold? I am a total wuss. To keep my mind off how I feel I will often listen to music or podcasts, or even turn on the TV to drown out my brain’s whines.
Eat healthy foods: Chomping down on junk will only make you feel worse. Grab some chicken noodle soup from your freezer, snack on some oranges, or nosh on foods high in Vitamin C. If you have a lot of mucus be sure to avoid dairy, sugar, and white flour-it can make it worse.
Get plenty of sleep: Rest comes after everything that must be done is completed. Or if you’re feeling really bad, take a 20-minute nap. Sometimes that and a bit of medicine are all you need. No matter what you put off, don’t skimp on sleep. If I have trouble resting NyQuil is my go-to to help me get a good night’s sleep so I can wake up feeling better.
More reading:
- 7 tips for entertaining young kids when you’re sick
- How you can occupy a small child when they’re sick
- 15 tips to stay healthy this winter during cold & flu season
#NoSickDays Blog Hop
I’m not the only one that has to power through a sick day-learn how these other amazing women juggle work, family, and must-dos when they’re sick.
The Cubicle Chick
Lady and the Blog
2 Wired 2 Tired
Love Brown Sugar
Also, @TheCubicleChick will be taking over the @NyQuilDayQuil twitter account! Be sure to follow along to see how she conquers #NoSickDays.
Social Media Follow & Share:
Want to give DayQuil or NyQuil a try! Click here for a coupon!
- Follow the new @NyQuilDayQuil Twitter channel.
- Follow the new @ZzzQuil Instagram account.
Share a photo of how you handle sick days using #NoSickDays.
Kelly
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Vicks. All opinions are my own.
It’s really helped me ensure I take care of myself, and not feel guilty about taking some time off to do so.
So smart! Rest is so key to getting better. Hope you’re on the mend!
I wasn’t feeling well the other day, so I just did the minimum of what HAD to be done that day and got some extra rest.
nicole feliciano (@Momtrends) says
Such a good idea the “must” do not the “to” do.