Essentials for When You’re Sick

Not feeling well sucks, but there are a few products out there that can, literally, help ease your pain. Here are some essentials for when you’re sick.

I hate to be sick. I hate it. And maybe that sounds obvious, because who really likes to be ill? But I hate losing sleep due to a sore throat or congestion, I hate calling in sick to work, and I hate the way missing one day of school throws off my lesson plans for the whole week. Most of all, I hate feeling yucky.

I woke up Monday feeling just that way, though, and I knew this week wasn’t going to allow room for me to lounge in bed. As much as I wanted to spend quality time at home with my favorite sweatshirt and a bottle of Dayquil, I had a field trip to chaperon, a playoff softball game to cheer at, and an awesome economics game to introduce my students to. Sick time didn’t factor in.

Over the years, I’ve learned there are a few things I consider essentials for when you’re sick. Products to take as much unpleasantness out of the situation as possible; products to minimize down time and get you back at it. These are my favorite products to keep around when I’m sick.

Essentials for When You’re Sick

Kleenex Cool Touch Tissues

I stock two different kinds of tissues in my house. The first kind is regular tissues, for regular nose-blowing and face-wiping. I also keep these tissues on hand, and we call them sick tissues. When you’re sick and wiping your nose every ten minutes, ordinary tissues don’t cut it. It doesn’t take long for them to leave your nose feeling raw and abused.

These Kleenex are magical. They feel, literally, cool and soothing against your nose when you seem to be blowing and wiping it nonstop. Keep these guys on hand for sick days and, I promise, your nose will thank you.

Throat Coat Tea

J and I aren’t always big into drinking hot tea. We go through phases where I’ll make us each a cup in the evenings, but then we’ll go through periods of time when I don’t. As soon as my throat starts to hurt, the first thing I reach for is Throat Coat tea.

Tea, by its nature, is soothing because it’s hot. In addition, this formula includes fancy roots and herbs that are intended to settle your throat. The taste isn’t bad; I much prefer it to any sort of liquid medicine. And, yeah, I typically add a little sugar or honey to mine to sweeten it up, but the benefits are still there.

Essential Oils

I’ve only ever talked briefly about my love for essential oils- here and here– but the feelings are real. Don’t get me wrong, I completely believe in modern medicine, and I’m not about to refuse necessary treatment for myself or for my kids, but I have found that, for my family, essential oils can provide relief from some of the symptoms of different illnesses.

When I’m sick, I love to rub Peppermint oil on my forehead to help with the headache often associated with a cold or a sinus infection. I love to rub a tiny amount of the Breathe blend under my nose to relieve congestion so I can fall asleep. I even use OnGuard at the first sign of illness in an attempt to keep the sickness at bay.

(note: I am not a doctor and I am not suggesting essential oils be used in place of medical care. The relief I speak of is only what I have personally experienced and, as always, you should only use essential oils in the way the instructions intend for them to be used.)

Essential Oils Diffuser

One of my favorite ways to use essential oils is to diffuse them. This diffuser shoots a fine mist made of water and oils into the air, diffusing the oils into the air you breathe. All you have to do is add a small amount of water and a few drops of whatever oils you want, turn it on, and let it run. It’ll diffuse for several hours on just one filling.

When I’m sick, I almost always diffuse oils at bedtime. I set the diffuser up on my nightstand and diffuse Breathe, Eucalyptus, Lavender, or sometimes just whatever I think will smell nice, like lemon. Sometimes I diffuse a couple oils together, sometimes I do one alone.

Burt’s Bees Cough Drops

I want a balance of flavor and relief when I choose a cough drop. I want it to soothe my throat and, of course, my cough, but I don’t want it to be overly menthol-y tasting or too sweet. That’s why Burt’s Bees cough drops are my favorite. I’ve found they have a pleasant taste, but also enough oomph to get the job done.

What are your essentials for when you’re sick?

Know someone who needs to see this post? Don’t forget to share it on Facebook!

(this post contains affiliate links; to learn more, see my disclosure policy)