Of course… weather changes, temperature drops, and the first thing that happens? Cold. Great. Just great. Now I’m lying in bed, surrounded by tissues like a sad snowstorm of used paper. (Oh god… I think I’m still not okay. The only words in my kopf… sorry, head… are in German. What the hell. Maybe I just miss speaking German too much 😅)
So yeah… I was on vacation, relaxing, getting ready to go back to work soon. And then... nope. I wake up with a headache, fever, runny nose, coughing like a damn old engine. I call my boss, all polite like, “Hey, sorry, but my vacation didn’t end well…” Yeah, no kidding. Now I have to stay home longer. Believe me, I’d rather go to work than sit here half-dead with a burning head and tissues all over my bed.
But apparently, it’s this shitty weather change again.One day it’s hot as hell, the next it’s freezing like we live in Antarctica. Ugh.
So now it’s tea time, vitamin time, soup time...all damn week. Maybe I’ll lose some weight at least, right? I’ve been eating nothing but soup for days. Though, I wouldn’t know… because someone forgot to change the battery in the scale. Perfect trick, actually. If you don’t know your weight, it can’t hurt you. 😎
Anyway… since the weather decided to play games again, let’s talk about how to fight this freaking cold before it knocks you out too.
Do you want to know why?
When it gets cold, people start catching colds and coughs more often. It’s not magi, it’s because the viruses spread faster, and our bodies are too busy freezing to fight back. Plus, we all start staying indoors, breathing the same air, still wearing summer clothes because we don’t accept that it’s cold yet. “Where’s my freaking jacket?!” I scream every year like it’s a surprise.
Research says our immune system gets lazy in cold air. Especially our poor noses...they hate temperature changes. When it’s cold, blood flow in the nose drops, and immune cells can’t do their job. So, the viruses (like rhinoviruses, the annoying ones that cause most colds) start partying in your nose.
Like, excuse me?! You just entered my nose without a ticket, bro! Trespassing much?!
Don’t worry though. I kicked that virus out. (Or maybe it was a “she”? Or an “it”? I couldn’t see, it was dark when I threw it out 😤).
*Want to survive?
Yeah yeah, we all get it, it’s common. But here’s what actually helps...from me, the professional sick person:
🥴 Rest a lot – Your body needs energy to fight. Honestly, you’ll barely be able to move anyway. Just sleep.
🍵 Drink warm stuff – Tea, soup, honey water, warm lemon juice...all of it. And yes, A LOT of honey, because why not.
🧣 Stay warm – Wear socks, keep your feet warm, don’t go outside half-naked pretending it’s still summer. Sweat a bit, change your clothes and bedsheets every few hours. (Ew, but true.)
💨 Steam it out – Breathe in steam from hot water or take a long shower. Clears your nose. Would be much easier if I had a sauna, but nooo… I just have my stupid small bathroom.
🍊 Eat healthy – Fruits, veggies, vitamin C, zinc. I can’t even eat a banana right now, so I just drink vitamin C. That counts, right?
🚫 Avoid cold drinks or ice – Unless you enjoy your throat burning in pain.
NOOOOOO!!!
💊 Take medicine – Paracetamol, ibuprofen...for fever or headache. Don’t overdo it though.
👩⚕️ See a doctor– If your fever lasts more than 3 days, or you feel like a zombie. Also, wear a mask, duh. My doctor looked at me like I was committing a crime when I showed up without one. Apparently, that’s still a thing.
Let's repeat in a few words
💧 Stay hydrated
🍲 Eat something light (even if it’s just soup)
😴 Sleep, rest, nap, repeat
🧣 Keep warm, cover your feet, stop pretending it’s summer
Got it?
