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While it’s easy to feel helpless, there are some things you can do to make yourself feel better even while sick and living alone.
MANILA, Philippines – Living alone can grant you the independence and freedom you’ve always wanted. That is, until you get sick and you’re left caring for yourself, even when you’re not in 100% good shape.
Having a loved one take care of your meals and medicines suddenly sounds appealing when you’re dealing with a fever all alone.
In some cases, there’s the option to phone family and ask for help. But other times, you have no choice but to look after yourself.
While it’s easy to feel helpless, there are some things you can do to make yourself feel better even while sick and living alone (and measures you can take to prevent catching an infection).
Always have a medicine kit prepared
Nothing’s worse than feeling a migraine or a cold coming up and having an empty medicine kit (or none at all). Though these can only temporarily relieve pain, they allow you to function semi-normally, even for just a little bit.
Some essential, over-the-counter medicines you can get without a prescription are:
- Paracetamol for headache and fever.
- Ibuprofen for pain medication like wounds, toothache, headache, or dysmenorrhea.
- Cetirizine for allergies.
- Phenylephrine for common colds, watery eyes, runny nose, and sneezing.
- Antacids for neutralizing stomach acid and symptoms of heartburn and indigestion.
Unilab offers a Handy Health Kit that contains some of these common medicines. You might also need a thermometer, tissues, topical ointments, and other first-aid tools that you can find in a DERMAID First Aid Kit.
No medicine stocked at home? You can have them delivered through GrabMart and Pick-A-Roo and the online shops of MedsGo, Mercury Drug, and Watsons.
Stock up on fruits and vegetables
It may seem normal to live off instant noodles and microwave meals when living alone, but when you’re sick, these convenient options won’t help you recover. Instant noodles, in particular, are often high in sodium and lack the nutrients you need to get well.
Instead, stock up on fruits, vegetables, and other healthy alternatives that you can eat with little to no prep. Crate2Plate (same-day delivery) and Safe Select (next-day delivery) offer fresh fruits and vegetables brought straight to your door.
Snacking on fruits and mixing vegetables into your soup are small things that can help you recover sooner than you expect.
But if you’re too sick to make meals, you can save energy by ordering food. Luckily, delivery is now much easier with Grab and Foodpanda, allowing healthy food to be brought to your doorstep.
Keep drinking fluids
When you’re sick, you lose more fluid when experiencing feverish sweats, coughing, vomiting, and diarrhea. That’s why constantly replenishing your body with water and electrolytes is an important step in recovering.
Repeatedly getting up to get a glass of water can be a laborious task when you’re sick. To save on energy, fill up a big water bottle and leave it by your nightstand so you can stay hydrated all day, even from bed.
However, your body may need more than just water; keep your fridge stocked with electrolyte-rich drinks like Pocari Sweat, Gatorade, Pedialyte, or coconut water just in case.
If you’re looking for a soothing drink that’s easy to make at home, you can mix warm water with lemon, honey, and/or ginger.
Prioritize rest
Living alone means having to do all the chores and work that come with maintaining a home. But when you’re sick, you don’t always have the strength to do everything. That may mean leaving some dishes unwashed or laundry piling up.
It’s important to remember that while these are essential tasks, doing heavy labor while sick can hinder recovery and even worsen your condition. Focus on resting and regaining your energy as much as you can.
In need of a little help cleaning up? You can avail cleaning services in Metro Manila online through Busy Bee Cleaning Co., Happy Helpers, or GetKlean.
To avoid getting sick, notice when your close friends and family are starting to catch a virus. Take it as a sign to start wearing a mask in congested areas and sanitizing your space regularly.
Also, make sure you’re getting enough vitamins! Maintaining a balanced diet is crucial in making your body more resistant to infections. You can lessen instant meals and takeouts by meal prepping healthy food at the start of the week.
Lastly, get enough sleep. Sleep is essential in strengthening your immune system! You can set a bedtime on your phone’s Health app to remind you when it’s bedtime.
Being sick while living alone can be hard, and so taking small steps to make recovery go a little better can go a long way. Get ahead of sick season by packing your medicine kit and building habits that strengthen your body’s immune system. – Alyana Fabella/Rappler.com
Alyana Fabella is a Rappler intern studying Bachelor of Arts in Communication at the Ateneo de Manila University.
