It’s the beginning of the day. You awake to find you are sick. What can you do to sleep better?
Take your clothes off. We’ll get a few comments on that. Seriously, a bunch of clothes will make you too hot when you’re feeling hot, and won’t help you when you’re cold. Rather, when you’re cold pile on the blankets. The clothes won’t help you sweat, the blankets will. Also, by getting rid of clothes you can better determine how your body really feels.
Take Tylenol, preferably the type that puts you to sleep. It will aid in how you feel plus make you sleepy and keep you asleep for a while, which is what the body needs when it is sick.
Keep a bucket by your bed. You don’t want to have to go to the restroom if you get sick. You want to stay in bed as much as possible. Staying in bed as much as possible will help you return to sleep quicker.
Stay in bed and read. Don’t get up on the couch and watch television. Television will keep you wide awake. Read a book in bed and you’ll be asleep in no time.
Only drink hot tea and chicken broth or at most chicken noodle soup. Also, a good “white” soda like 7-Up is good. These all give you fluids but are also calming. Water isn’t really calming. It can create stress thinking you have to drink so much.
Go to the shower and get the water as hot as you can stand it. It doesn’t matter whether you are chilled or not. Get in the water as long as possible and then go to bed without drying. The sheets will dry you very quickly and you will be very comfortable and will also be very sleepy. It is best to lay on your left side in the fetal position.
Change the bedclothes. They will feel cold and dry. They will feel great.
Use bio-feedback. Mentally go through each part of your body and say it is getting heavy. Start with your foot. Long before you reach your head you will be asleep.
Finally, if you cannot get to sleep take a tiny modicum of wine. One of two things will happen. Either you will get sleepy or you will throw up. One way or another you’ll feel sleepy.
Whatever you do, don’t keep pushing yourself to get well. Take it easy and get good sleep. You’ll feel better before you know it.