We’ve all been there. You wake up in the morning ready for another day at work only to feel unbelievably grotty. You realise that you’re not well, and your body is screaming for rest, So what do you do?
Whether it’s the flu or a cold or it’s just really an off day, spending a sick day in bed doesn’t have to be unproductive and it doesn’t have to be dull. Firstly, rest in itself is productive. Your body needs rest and if it’s crying out for sleep, that’s what you should be doing. However, if you still want to enjoy yourself on your sick day as you recover, we’ve got a list of things that you can do to help you pass the time and boost your mood as you do so.
Play games online.
When you’re feeling poorly, it’s very easy to stay comfortable and snuggled up in bed, and it’s even easier to play your favourite games like poker from your phone. The Internet has a game for every taste, and you don’t have to gamble any money while you do it either. There are plenty of poker games that don’t involve actual money, so you can play with imaginary money and still get the same happy feeling. Playing games doesn’t just help to distract you from feeling sick, but it’s a fun way to challenge your mind and pass the time. Playing chess, logging into your PlayStation to play FIFA, or going online and playing The Sims can be a nice way to break up the day when you’re trying to recover from an illness.
Binge watch your favourite TV shows.
When you’re laid up in bed feeling sick, it’s the perfect opportunity to indulge in binge watching. It doesn’t have to be your utter favourite TV series, but it could be a TV series you’ve been itching to start. There’s nothing better than cozying up under the blankets, with a box of tissues beside you, a bottle of water on the bedside table and hitting play on your favourite streaming series. If you don’t want the TV show, you can always binge watch a movie marathon, something that is easy to pay attention to. When you’re feeling sick and groggy, you don’t want something too complicated to have to try and follow.
Read a book.
If you don’t have the mind power to use your eyes to read a book, you can pop in a pair of headphones and listen to an audiobook. If you’re the type of person who prefers a slow pace on a sick day, a book can really pass the time. Whether you enjoy fiction, non fiction, self improvement books or even graphic novels, there is something incredibly comforting about getting lost in a story. Obviously, if you have a headache or you’re feeling too sick, it may not be a great idea to strain your eyes, so just go with your best judgement to determine whether a book is a good idea.
Try a new recipe for soup.
Soup on a sick day? Sounds perfect, doesn’t it? All the cooking may not sound like the ideal activity, but you do still have to eat to get those nutrients up to kill whatever sickness is flowing through you. Or out of you, as the case may be! Simple comfort foods, like a homemade chicken soup can be excellent for your stomach and it can give you the nourishment that you need. Cooking is also the perfect distraction if you want something that doesn’t require constant attention, but it’s still a rewarding activity. If you have a slow cooker, soup is a great option for slow cookers because you can pop it on in the morning and go back to bed for a few hours while it cooks. This means you’re going to have a slow cooker full of something delicious for when you’re ready for it.
Run a relaxing bath.
A warm and soothing bath can be a great way to help your body to relax, especially if you’re dealing with muscle aches or even a cold. Adding some bath salts or essential oils such as lavender and eucalyptus can give you that added relaxation and healing benefit that you’re looking for. Eucalyptus, for example, can really help you to clear your sinus and ease congestion. If you’re not up to a full bath, hot showers can still work wonders. Keep the warm water at a normal temperature, don’t go too hot or too cold because you don’t want to disrupt your inner body temperature. You can still use that muscle tension and provide yourself with comfort when you’re feeling under the weather. You could even set the mood by playing music or listening to a podcast while you relax.
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Listen to music.
If you’re laying in bed and you can’t stomach reading a book or watching TV, why not put some music on? Podcasts are a great way to spend your sick day, but if you can’t concentrate on a podcast, music is the best option for you. Calming and soothing tunes can help you to really relax or you can go for something more upbeat to lift your spirits if you need to. You could even create a sick day playlist with your favourite songs to make recovery time more enjoyable. Music is healing to some, and you might find yourself drifting off to sleep and better able to do so.
Work on something creative.
If you have the energy for something creative, why not knit, or doodle, or journal? You could try your hand at digital art, or do some embroidery if you want something relaxing and simple to do while you listen to music. You can gather all the materials that you need for knitting or crochet and get yourself sitting in a comfortable chair to be able to do something enjoyable for a few hours. Sure, it may not be a work day, but you don’t have to stay in bed the entire time if you can stomach doing something fun.
Practice mindfulness.
A sick day is the perfect time to really practise your meditation and mindfulness. It’s a moment where you can take some control over your environment and keep everything calm and quiet. You can get started by simply sitting or laying down in a comfortable position and starting to focus on your breathing. There are plenty of apps out there that can also provide you with guided meditation if you need it. This makes it easier if you’re a beginner and you don’t even have to dedicate a lot of time. Just a few minutes of deep breathing and mindfulness can make a massive difference in how you feel both physically and emotionally. It won’t chase away the flu, but it will definitely help you to feel more relaxed.
Video chat with friends and family.
While you’re laid up in bed, you could always get in touch with friends and family to see how they are if they are also off work. This is the perfect thing to do if you’re feeling isolated, especially when you’re not feeling your best. All you may want to do is just lay down and do nothing, and that’s absolutely fine if that’s where you want to go with it, but knowing that your family and friends are at the other end of the phone can be really helpful and make you feel good.
Get some sleep!
Lastly, one of the best ways to spend a sick day is to focus on giving your body the rest that it is desperately needing. Sleep is vital to recovery and when you’re feeling like rubbish, sleeping it away can make a big difference.
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