By Tomislav Lukicevic
Living alone can be challenging in many ways. But, one of the trickiest aspects is dealing with an illness like the seasonal flu or cold. It can become quite stressful and hard to overcome on your own.
When you feel miserable and sick and don’t have anyone to rely on for help, you’re responsible for caring for yourself. But don’t worry—with some forward planning and preparation, you can survive alone, even with the dreaded flu!
Catch It Early
I tend to ignore the first signs of a cold or flu which is a big mistake. Catching it early could save a lot of time and effort. Sometimes when I feel sick, I can lessen my symptoms just by upping my vitamin C intake, drinking hot soup like one made with a rich bone broth and enjoying delicious warm tea with honey.
It may not always work, but it makes you feel a little bit better and hopefully shortens your time recovering in bed.
Be Well Prepared
I love the Latin quote “Amat Victoria Curam”. It can be translated in many ways, but my favourite interpretation is: Victory favours the ones who are prepared. Beating the flu when you are alone can be determined by how ready you are for this war.
Ensure you have plenty of tissues, cough drops, and over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen and acetaminophen in your medicine cabinet. Pick up some soup, crackers, and other easy-to-digest foods in case you don’t feel up to cooking.
Take Care Of Yourself
When you are sick, taking care of yourself is more important than ever. It may not be an easy task as your body will be exhausted from fighting your illness, so make sure you’re getting plenty of rest and staying hydrated to give yourself the best fighting chance.
A warm bath (drop some herbal remedies into it to help clear sinus blockages) or a heating pad can also help ease your symptoms. Also, don’t be afraid to take a sick day off work—you need time to recover and don’t want to spread your illness to others.
Reach Out For Help
Just because you’re flying solo doesn’t mean you must go through the flu completely alone. Reach out to friends or family members for help if you need it. They can pick up supplies for you or drop off some homemade soup.
If you’re really struggling, don’t be afraid to ask someone to come over and check on you, especially if you’re feverish.
If you can’t see anyone in person, use technology to stay connected. Call or text, or use video with a friend or family member to let them know how you feel and have a virtual check-in. Do not forget about social media; it’s a great way to stay connected with friends and family when feeling isolated.
Be Patient
Finally, be patient with yourself. The flu can take a while to run its course, and you might not feel better right away. Don’t push yourself too hard, and remember that taking it easy for a few days is okay. Your health is the most important thing, and you’ll feel better soon enough.
By resting during the day, your body can devote more resources to fighting the virus, as sleep allows your body to focus on strengthening your immune system. So stay in bed and give yourself enough time to completely heal; you don’t want to sabotage your health and start the cycle over because you were impatient.
Prevention Is Better Than The Cure
Colds and flu are primarily seasonal occurrences, striking when our immunity is low. During colder months, we can get fewer vitamins in our food, and we tend to spend more time indoors. Spending time in nature and soaking up some sun on good weather days will replenish our vitamin D reserves. Breathing some nice fresh air will help your lungs since the flu is a respiratory illness.
A healthy diet is crucial in wintertime, especially if we cannot get some seasonal fruits and vegetables. To top up your vitamin C levels, try to have some citrus fruit daily, like lemons, oranges, tangerines, or grapefruit.
The best prevention, however, is getting a flu shot, especially if you are an older person or have impaired health. The flu can be deadly in those cases, and it is better to be safe than sorry.
Living alone can be tough, but it doesn’t have to become impossible if you are struck down with a cold or flu. You can make it through by stocking up on supplies, taking care of yourself, keeping your space clean, reaching out for help, using technology to stay connected, and being patient. Then when you are feeling well, you’ll be glad you took the time to take good care of yourself.