This past year, I been sick A LOT; strep throat, colds, cough, you name it. So, I have developed quite a vast knowledge of how to take care of myself when I am sick. Being sick as a busy high school student can really put a damper on my ability to be productive when you can barely get out of bed. Here are my hacks for the next time you are sick and miserable.

1. The minute you start feeling like you’re on the verge of a cold (runny eyes, exhaustion, headache) try taking AlkaSeltzer Extreme Cold to attack the virus before it attacks you.
2. Often times, people get sick because they don’t get enough sleep, which weakens their immune system. If you wake up after barely getting any shut-eye, try taking an Emergen-C. This powder that dissolves in water has 1000% of your daily amount of Vitamin C and will help your immune system before it allows a virus to take over.
3. Does your throat hurt? Try honey. Honey is extremely rejuvenating and moisturizing. I recommend Burt’s Bees honey throat drops or, even better, simply a heaping spoonful of honey. The honey will coat your throat and relieve any irritation.
4. Ginger tea is a miracle worker, and I am not exaggerating. Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory food that can help reduce the swelling in your lymph nodes, throat, nasal passages, and more. Additionally, the heat from the tea can help provide some relief.
5. Undoubtedly, the best thing you can do for yourself when you are sick is to drink plenty of liquids. Water and orange juice work great, but my personal favorite is Naked Power-C Juice. Not only is this juice sweet and delicious, but it is boosted with Vitamin C that will help the virus pass faster.
6. If you find yourself still congested in your chest, as long as you have adequate energy to get up off the couch, sometimes a run can be the best thing for you. No matter how fast you can run or how far, getting your body moving can really help clear out your chest. Personally, going on runs helps me cough up what is keeping me congested and provides so much relief.
7. If you find yourself still congested in your nasal passages, think heat. Whether it be from hot tea, hot soup, or even better, a hot shower, heat will help your nasal passages expand and release the congestion. Personally, when congestion is causing pain in my sinuses, I like to hold a hot compress over my nose and cheek area to relieve the pain.
8. This may sound like an urban legend, but the best way for me to stop coughing while I’m trying to sleep is by applying Vicks Vaporub on the bottom of my feet covered with socks. Somehow, the cooling sensation of the Vicks works its way up my body and calms my chest, helping me to get a quality sleep in.
9. Try your best to eat healthy foods. Even after you start feeling better, your body and immune system is still weak, so eating healthy can help you regain strength.