It’s been a long week filled with uni and nursery observations, and lots of studying in between! I find it quite draining to keep going when I’m feeling ill, though it is only a cold.

‘Just a cold!’ This is such a short but frequently used statement that really belittles the suffering people go through when they have headaches, their minds feel like cotton wool, their ears are ringing, they have blocked sinuses, a runny nose and a sore throat that feels raw. It’s dire!

I hate soup but it often presents itself as a very appealing option for breakfast, lunch and dinner when I have a cold. My fridge also gets full of oranges very fast.

I either feel too fidgety and too uncomfortable to sleep or I feel could sleep like there’s no tomorrow (which is a strange expression because if tomorrow were the end of the world then I certainly wouldn’t be spending today with my eyes shut).

While the cold is common, especially this time of year when England is getting colder, more miserable and the freshers have turned up at uni, we do just have to plod on. Unfortunately, the winter months are usually spent with me relying on hot lemsip drinks and throat lozenges to get me through the dark days.

But what can we focus on to make us feel better?

First port of call is always the ibuprofen. I usually turn away from painkillers and just try to deal with the problem through herbal remedies but when you have many hours left in the day and you just can’t concentrate, swallow them down, close your eyes for five minutes and power on!

Doctors and pharmacists have told me that things like lemsip should actually be avoided. If you’re feeling all clogged up and need something to shift that mucus, go to your chemist and speak to them. They will offer you something that is sure to make a difference to how you’re feeling. There’s always good old fashioned honey and lemon water.

Drink lots and lots of water. This will help with your mucus and replace any fluids you have already lost. Hopefully, water will also help move the virus through your body and out. You could also put salt in your water. Don’t drink this of course, but give it a good gargle to help your sore mouth and throat.

Vapour rub works wonders and what is even better is stirring some of this into a bowl of hot water and leaning over it, covering your head with a towel. You will feel bloody hot but this should really aid towards clearing you up. Hot showers are also great, and great for your skin too. Just make sure you wrap up warmly quickly afterwards so that you won’t catch a further chill!

Get some rest. (Insane option, I know.) Last year I did not take one day off from uni or my social work placement. This was possibly why I was coughing my guts up and passing my illness around for most of the year. It is important and actually responsible to see reason and tell yourself that you are allowed to take a couple of sick days – to not work from home but to stay in bed and take care of yourself, with lots of soup, hot peppermint tea and vitamin C. I find that sleeping on extra pillows helps to clear my nasal passages and stops me from feeling so stiff too.

And if you really have to go into work, carry this little beauty with you to prevent you from spreading germs to the rest of your team.. and have an early night with some zinc and Echinacea!

Feel better soon 🙂