On sick leave? 10 ways to feel better – fast

Krista Garcia

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On sick leave? 10 ways to feel better – fast
There are lots of things you can do while on the road to recovery

 

 

 

MANILA, Philippines – Did you enjoy the spate of cold weather from the past few months? We sure did. But these cool days and nights, followed by the high-rising temperatures of summer, come with one downside: the prevalence of colds, and flu-related symptoms, such as the sniffles or headaches. (READ: Things you may not know about colds and headaches)

As soon as you start feeling sick, don’t hesitate to file for that sick leave. You will do everyone a favor by staying at home, recovering faster, and preventing viruses from spreading. 

You might balk at the idea of staying at home all day, but there are many things you can actually do while you’re sick. Don’t focus on keeping yourself busy – your priority is to get well ASAP.



Below are some of our suggestions. Start with your mobile phone:

1. Turn off your phone notifications. A sick person should not be expected to answer work emails immediately, regardless of whether he is bedridden or not. You’re on leave because you need to feel better and avoid stress. Turn your Inbox and group message alerts to “silent” for the next 24 hours, and resist the urge to check Facebook every 30 minutes (occasionally replying to get-well messages is OK).

2. Prepare your “get-well” stack. If you’re likely to be staying in bed all morning, make sure you have all your essentials within reach. In the morning, prepare your breakfast in a tray, and add on the following: a pot of tea, biscuits, medicine, and lots of tissue. If you have a garden, put fresh flowers in a small vase… and voila! You have an Instagram-ready tray that will actually help you feel better.

3. Get relief. For mild cases of the colds or flu, stay at home to avoid spreading the disease to your co-workers. Stay in bed and minimize contact with your family, too. Don’t forget to take medicines that will relieve congestion, headaches, and fever symptoms.

 

4. Let your work tools recover, too. While you’re sick, you may also want to allow your hardworking gadgets to get some TLC. Open your computer – but don’t work! Just run virus and disk scans, defragmentation, and other background maintenance tasks that won’t need your full attention and that you typically can’t run on a busy workday.

5. Listen to a book or some music. If watching a movie or reading a book will make your headache worse, put on your headphones instead. Pick a calming playlist on Spotify, or look for an audio book (try business books or the latest bestsellers). Then settle down and get some learning done in bed!

6. Drink hot tea with lemon and honey. According to doctors, people with the flu should drink extra fluids to keep from getting dehydrated. Aside from having soup and drinking lots of water, add some calming tea to the mix. The steam from your cup also helps free up your nasal passages so you can breather better.

7. Take a hot shower. Getting in the shower is actually OK when you’re sick – as long as you run it warm. The steam can help relieve congestion and instantly make you feel relaxed. If you have a tub, go ahead and enjoy a hot soak.

 

 

8. Go on a sightseeing tour. Thanks to the Internet, you don’t have to leave home to explore new places. If you’re not feeling too dizzy anymore, go on Google Views and explore some European landmarks in 360 degrees. Research on your next travel destination!

 

9. Order comfort food… Get a home massage… or even just put on some new pajamas. It’s easy to feel a little put out when you’re pale, tired, and coughing every minute. Quick fix-me-ups like ordering your favorite congee or wearing your most comfy sleepwear can help you feel more pampered without too much effort.

 

10. Rest. This is the first marching order on the road to recovery. At the end of the day, don’t force yourself to think of too many things to do. Take advantage of this downtime to truly relax, catch up on sleep and have some well deserved “me time.” You’ll feel better ASAP, and your body will thank you for it.

Have other stay-at-home tips and activities to share? Post them below. – Rappler.com

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