This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc., Abreva, Emergen-C, Lipton, Robitussin and Theraflu. All opinions are mine alone. #SickDayTips #CollectiveBias
One of the hardest things about being a mom is that we don’t really get any days off, even when we are not feeling well and could really use a “sick day”. Instead, we have to get through the day the best we can and consider ourselves lucky if we find a few minutes of rest while our children are at school, napping or otherwise occupied. I wanted to share a few ways that I make it through the day when I’m under the weather and hopefully these tips can help you the next time you are sick.
Make sure you are stocked up on the essentials you need to get through your sick day.
I always make sure to have extra blankets on hand because I seem to get chilly every time I’m sick. I also make sure to have tissues, snacks, and something to keep me hydrated within reach. There are also some over-the-counter medicines I make sure to keep stocked up on as well so I have them when I’m not feeling well.
When I have a cough, Robitussin® brand cough syrup is my go-to (and has been for years) because the liquid-strength of Robitussin® soothes on contact and provides cough relief for hours. I really like the new Robitussin® Maximum Strength Honey Cough & Chest Congestion DM because it features the real honey you want and the powerful cough relief you need. It’s also Gluten Free, has no Artificial Colors, and is a True Source Certified Honey.
I’ve also recently discovered Theraflu Power Pods Daytime Severe Cold which are compatible with most single-serve coffee makers and a must-have when you are feeling multiple cold and flu symptoms because they provide powerful relief without a prescription. These fast-relieving pods work on even your most severe symptoms by temporarily relieving these symptoms due to a cold: minor aches and pains, headache, nasal and sinus congestion, cough due to minor throat and bronchial irritation, minor sore throat pain, and temporarily reduces fever. (Remember, Theraflu Power Pods Daytime Severe Cold and Robitussin® Maximum Strength Honey Cough & Chest Congestion DM should not be used at the same time.)
Decide what the absolute “must do” things are and what can be skipped for the day. Then figure out what you can do to make your “must do” tasks easier.
The first thing I do on sick days is decide what my absolute “must do” things are and what things I can skip for the day. As a busy mom of three, some things that are must-do’s include taking care of my baby, school drop-off and pick-up for my older two, being the “mom taxi”, and getting my work with deadlines complete. Things that I skip include any household chores (because nobody is going to notice if the laundry sits in the hamper another day), errands, and any nonessential work on the blog. I also try and figure out what things I can do to make my required tasks easier. For example, feeding my children dinner falls under the “must do” category but I can make it easier on myself by calling it a “breakfast for dinner” night or getting takeout so I don’t have to cook something. And having a baby means diaper changes and feedings so maybe on sick days you have everything in one central place nearby so you aren’t having to walk around carrying baby from room to room everytime you need to change a diaper, get a new outfit, or prepare a bottle. I’m all about simplifying things as much as possible on sick days!
Come up with a few, easy ideas to keep your kids busy.
Those with toddlers to tweens may find it helpful to have some fun, easy ideas ready to keep the kids busy throughout the day. When I was a preschool teacher I always had a box full of things that only came out on rainy days and this box was a sanity saver on those difficult days. Even though the children had seen the toys and activities previously, being put away for a while before being brought back out made the items in the box seem new and exciting and kept their attention for longer than toys that they had been playing with recently. I did this often when my boys were younger and it was perfect for sick days because they were excited to see all the “new” toys that had really just been forgotten and sitting in our garage! Another thing I love doing is having a special “movie marathon” where my kids get to watch movies with mom all day and eat special snacks. I may be feeling under the weather so movie watching is the easiest thing to do for me but in my kid’s eyes it’s a day of fun and cuddles with mom. Lastly, when all else fails, I enact a “quiet time” where the kids have to rest in their beds and read/look at books for an hour or so to give everyone a little well-needed rest time.
Relax!
Once you have your essentials on hand, have your day figured out, and your kids are occupied, it’s time to relax as much as possible! I know this is so difficult to do as a mom but the only way you are going to start feeling better is by resting and taking it easy.
What tips do you have for making it through a sick day?
While you are stocking up on cold and flu essentials you might also want to pick up a few other things for winter self-care. Here are a few I’d recommend making sure you have…. Emergen-C Immune+® Super Orange Gummies naturally supports your immune system and are an excellent source of Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Zinc to help you feel good all winter long.* If drifting off to sleep is difficult you’ll want to try Lipton Bedtime Bliss Tea from the Lipton Wellness range, made with carefully selected botanicals and blended with essential oils that make every cup delicious and helps make wellbeing a part of your everyday routine. It sings you to sleep, like a lullaby in a cup.* And, for that occassional cold sore that pops up in the winter months, you’ll want to grab Abreva® Pump Cold Sore and Fever Blister Treatment, the only FDA approved OTC medicine to shorten healing time, so that you can apply it at the first sign of a cold sore.*
Want to save money? Kroger, where I shopped for all my cold and flu essentials, has everything you need to survive the winter sick days and they have some great deals right now!
Theraflu-(c) 2019 the GSK group of companies or its licensor. Theraflu is for use in adults 12 years and older.
Use all products only as directed. Read label and follow directions. Abreva, Emergen-C, Robitussin – Use only as directed. Read label and follow directions.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent disease.