Recuperating from an illness, acute or chronic, isn’t such an easy task. With resilience at work and taking these necessary steps, you can stay positive and slowly move towards improving the quality of your life and recovery.
- Stop Worrying – Worrying and thinking negative thoughts is never a good thing. Often times constant worrying tends to cause stress and anxiety which can wreak havoc on the body. When these negative thoughts start to bombard your mind, try to think positive thoughts. If you’re stressing about the prognosis and possible outcomes of your condition, write down your questions and concerns and talk to your doctor about them. This will not only put your mind at ease, but will also allow you to find out some great information regarding your health.
- Maintain a Healthy Diet – Make sure you are getting the right amount of calories, protein, vitamins, and minerals. If you’re not sure how much you need, talk to your doctor or dietician about it. Try eating frequent small meals throughout the day instead of two large meals. Also, make sure you incorporate fruits, vegetables, and lean meats into your meal plan. Vitamins and minerals help to increase the performance of the immune system and re-balance the body after sickness. Being sick tends to deplete the body of these necessary nutrients and vitamins that are stored away, making a healthy diet extremely important when fighting off an illness.
- Drink Lots of Fluids – Drinking lots of fluids helps to cleanse the body of toxins and viruses. Drinking water is the best fluid of choice, but some other options are herbal tea, hot water with lemon, low sodium broth, and sports drinks (Gatorade and Powerade).
- Get Enough Rest – The body heals and regains strength while you sleep, so make sure you get enough. To help you sleep well, only lie in your bed for sleeping. For activities such as watching television, find another place to sit rather than your bed. This will help train your mind and body to relax when lying in bed which makes for a better night’s sleep. Also try to avoid drinking stimulants at night such as coffee and tea, since the high levels of caffeine will make it hard to relax. Lastly, do your exercise regimen during the day, so at night your body is ready to rest.
- Stay Active – Do some type of physical activity on a daily basis. Exercise is good for the body and promotes wellness. Always see your doctor first before beginning any physical activity to make sure it’s appropriate for someone in your current condition.
- Shower Daily – Taking a shower on a daily basis helps to remove unwanted germs and bacteria on the skin that can possibly enter into the body. One of the perks of taking a nice warm shower is the feeling that you get from getting clean. It’s very invigorating and it can lift your spirit and energy level.
- Try Taking Probiotics – If eating when you’re ill is difficult and irritates your stomach, try taking a probiotic. By taking a probiotic such as yogurt, it will calm your stomach and help with the digestion of food. If yogurt doesn’t sound appetizing, try taking a over-the-counter probiotic supplement.
Leading a healthy lifestyle is the absolute key to overcoming illness. Eating a balanced healthy diet, getting enough exercise and rest, and engaging in other healthy habits are all a part of a healthy lifestyle. Always keep in mind too, that with a positive attitude and resilience at work, overcoming illness can be achieved.
