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As I type this up right now, I am fighting off a cold, nearing the tech week of Macbeth. At least half the cast has now gotten sick, and I fell prey. But: it’s going away thanks to all these wonderful things, which is great because it usually takes me weeks to get over a cold.
So today, I’m talking about how I prevent colds during performances and how I (quickly!) fight them off if I get stricken down by one. Listen, I’m no doctor. But, through trial and error, I’ve learned what works for me.
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Let’s get into it!
Preventing a cold
1.) Stop the stress.
Stressing out for a long time will get you sick. It’s why I’m sick right now! Just take some time for yourself every day to decompress. Don’t load your plate so high that you can’t see over it, or else you drop the entire plate and now all your food’s on the floor. Basically, you overload, you get sick, and then you can’t do your job. That’s contrary to what you wanted in the first place!
2.) Get your Z’s.
Getting more sleep also helps regulate your stress levels! Your body does most of its healing while you’re sleeping, so if you don’t sleep, you can’t heal, and you’re going to get sick. I, personally, need a solid 8-9 hours to feel my best, but I’ve been getting 6-8 lately. I wonder why I’m sick…
3.) Drink all the water.
The amount of water that you’re technically supposed to drink a day is about eight 8 oz. glasses of water. That’s about 4 Swell water bottles. So, that’s my goal; 2 Swells before noon and 2 after, and you’ve got it. Except for that if you’re a performer and dancing or moving or sword fighting in Macbeth, you need more water because you’re sweating. So just drink a lot of water.
4.) Stay away from added sugars.
Sugar, if you didn’t know, feeds bacteria. So, eat more fruit, veggies, proteins, good carbs and good fats without the added sugar, and you’ll feel great. You’re only supposed to have about 25g of added sugar a day for women, and 38g for men, but on average, Americans consume about 71g of added sugars a day. How crazy is that?!
5.) Take your Wellness!
Wellness Formula is a vitamin that’s a blend of herbs and spices that boosts your immune system. When I take these regularly, I don’t get sick. Obviously, I haven’t been taking them regularly, but now I’m taking them to get rid of this monster!
Getting rid of a cold FAST
Wellness Formula
I mentioned it earlier, but Wellness Formula is magic. I’m not joking. I was recommended it a couple years back, and sure enough, I stopped getting serious colds. When you get a cold, you take a bunch of these (follow instructions on the bottle) and magically, your cold gets cut in half.
Coconut Oil Up the Nose
This is a weird one. If you take a cotton swab and dip it in coconut oil and then put it inside your nose, the antibacterial properties of the coconut oil attack the virus. AND an added benefit is that if it’s dry out, it moisturizes the inside of your nose. Dry air leads to colds for some reason. That’s why people get sick from planes a lot. Dry, recycled air.
Do this as often as possible: every hour is best.
Gargle with warm salt water
This helps with a sore throat so tremendously; the salt will attack the virus, and it hurts much, much less! Put a cup of water in the microwave for 15-30 seconds, put in a teaspoon or so of salt, dissolve it, and gargle MULTIPLE times a day. About as many times as the coconut oil; every hour or every other hour. It’ll really make a difference.
Wear a scarf
This is real good for performers who need to use their voices. Keep your throat and neck warm and prevent it from getting dry. A dry throat facilitates a virus. Don’t let that dreaded dry air getchya.
Drink even more liquids
While you’re fighting off an infection or a cold, you need more liquids than you normally do. Drink more water, non-caffeinated tea, broth, etc., and stay away from too much sodium, alcohol, or sugary foods and drinks. (There’s that dastardly sugar again!)
Use a humidifier when you sleep
As I’ve mentioned before, dry air isn’t good for sick people. Use a humidifier when you sleep to stay moist and ready to fight that cold!
Don’t sleep with the AC on
Again, a dry air issue. Sleeping with the AC on dries you out, so try not to use the AC when you’re sleeping.
Zicam
Zicam is another mineral thing that you take to get rid of a cold. It has zinc in it and when you follow the instructions on the package, it really speeds up the healing process. Zinc is one of those minerals that cancels out when mixed with certain other minerals, so if you don’t pay attention to the directions, you’ll be getting nothing for you money. Take as directed, and it’ll get you better in no time.
Vitamin C
The most obvious one! Take your Vitamin C, but not too much or you might be on the toilet for longer than you’d like to be. Take the recommended amount and it’ll help fight your cold and send it packing.
That’s what I’ve got for you this week!
Hopefully, I’ll follow my own advice and get better ASAP! If you liked this article and want to add to what’ll make you well again, feel free to comment! Check out our Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest as well, and make sure to email subscribe below!
I’ll see ya next week. Bye!
