How to Hygge When You’re Sick

How to Hygge When You’re Sick will help you create a plan to nurture yourself when you’re not feeling your best. With these ideas, you’ll be back on your feet again soon.

How to Hygge When You’re Sick

If you’re looking for more ideas on how to add hygge to your life, How to Hygge: 31 of the Best Ideas and Hygge Ideas on Self Care will help you on your journey.

None of us want or plan on getting sick, but somehow, it comes at the worst time, and we are often unprepared.

Your body is telling you to slow down and take care of yourself. Having everything you need on hand will help you go through these not-so-fun times easier.

Some ideas will help you add cozy elements to your self-care, while others will help you heal faster.

Creating a Cozy Life Group

Since you found this article on How to Hygge When You’re Sick, I’m guessing you like all things cozy living. I created a Facebook group called Creating a Cozy Life with over 193,000 like-minded souls.

It’s a group where we share recipes, pictures of things that leave you in awe, and ideas on how to make your life just a little bit more snug. Join here to be part of the virtual cozy cabin.

1. Take Time Off

Don’t try and power through the times you are not feeling well. Make sure you have days set aside at work to use when you need time to recover.

How many of us have ignored our bodies, only to find our symptoms worsen because we didn’t stop and give us our needed time off from obligations?

2. Create a Cozy Recovery Nest

Decide where you want your “sick headquarters” and create a comfortable spot to relax.

Most people choose their bed or couch, so make sure you have freshly cleaned sheets and plenty of warm blankets to grab in case you feel chilled.

Build a little sanctuary with extra pillows, blankets, and throws. Having a comfortable, cozy space can help you relax more easily.

Cozy living group members swear by weighted blankets at times like these. You can find one here on Amazon.

If you pick your bed, make sure you have a back pillow to support your back.  I love mine, and so does my dog Gracie. She loves how it creates a little nook and uses the arms as a pillow. You can find one here on Amazon.

3. Get-Well Tray

Having a large tray set on a side table beside your couch or bed with all your supplies will help you find your needed things within arm’s reach.

Cold medicine, magazines, books, remote, a cup of tea, and tissues should all be gathered in one spot.

One of the Cozy Living Members swears by Kleenex Cool Touch tissues.  She said they are the only ones she gets.  You can find them here on Amazon because they can be challenging to find in stores.

Placing a small vase with fresh flowers or a small plant will add a little cheer to a not-so-fun time of your life.

4. Wear Hygge Attire 

I hope you have at least one set of cozy pajamas, comfortable socks, and slippers.  A nice robe is also a must-have.

It would help if you changed into clean pajamas daily for optimal comfort.

Feeling comfortable when you’re not feeling well is a must.  Ensure you have the proper attire to self-nourish your way back to optimal health.

5. Binge watch television or have a readathon

Watching a marathon of that new television show you’ve been meaning to watch or finally plowing through that stack of books you have by your beside are the perfect activities for when you’re feeling under the weather.

The Cozy Living Group members recommend these television series for binge-watching:

Anne with an E

Anne with an E is a series based on the classic novel Anne of Green Gables.

After Life 

Ricky Gervais is the lead in this series about a man who had the perfect life until his wife died.  The nice guy decides to change his life and start doing whatever he wants.

Atypical 

This series follows a teenager named Sam who has autism and decides he’s ready for romance.

Call the Midwife 

Set in the 1950s in London, this series follows a newly qualified midwife.

Downtown Abbey 

A wonderful television show about the Crawley family and their servants in their large country estate.  The series starts in 1912 and takes you through their journey for ten years.

Gilmore Girls 

Set in an everyone-wants-to-live-there small town, this series follows Lorelai and her daughter Rory.  They navigate small town life with an eclectic mix of town folks.

Good Witch (The) 

Catherine Bells stars in this series and made-for-TV movies.  It follows her journey of arriving at a small town and starting her life over, with a bit of magic to help her transform her world and everyone she encounters.

Grace & Frankie 

Two long-time rivals come together when their husbands fall in love with each other.

Great British Bake Off 

Amateur bakers compete with each other in a series of rounds.

Hart of Dixie

Zoe Hart accepts a position as a doctor in a small town in Alabama after living in New York City.  She finds out the man that offered her the job was her biological father, and she stays in town to learn more about him and the townspeople he helped.

Heartland

This series follows two sisters and their family on a sprawling ranch.  There are 13 seasons, so this one will keep you busy.

Kindness Diaries (The) 

Leon Logothetis travels on a vintage motorbike throughout the world.  He relies on the kindness of strangers.

Lock and Key 

Three siblings move in together in a house with keys that bend reality.

Marvelous Mrs. Maisel 

The perfect wife in the perfect apartment with the perfect husband and children, discovers she has a knack for stand-up comedy in the late 1950s.

Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries 

Set in Melbourne, Australia, in the 1920s, this series follows detective Phryne Fisher’s fight for justice.

Murder She Baked

This is a Hallmark series of movies starring Alison Sweeney.  Hannah is a bakery owner in Lake Eden, Minnesota, who can’t help getting involved in the occasional murder in her small town.

Mr. Selfridge

Starring Jeremy Piven, this series tells the story of an American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge who transformed Britain’s retail stores.

Outlander 

A British Army nurse enjoys a second honeymoon in Scotland when she is transported back to 1743 after touching a stone.

Poldark 

After the American Revolutionary War, Captain Ross Poldark returns home to find his true love engaged to someone else and his father dead.

Repair Shop (The) 

Heirlooms and treasured antiques are restored to their former glory by expert craftsmen.

Schitt’s Creek 

A wealthy couple finds themselves broke overnight except for a small town they bought as a joke.

Virgin River 

A Los Angeles nurse practitioner moves from Los Angeles to a remote North California town.

When Calls the Heart 

For her first teaching assignment, a young high society teacher moves to a small mining town.

6. Time for Tea

What is it about tea that makes us crave it when we aren’t feeling well?  Putting together a tea station with a variety of teas that will help you on the road to recovery.

You know, drinking plenty of fluids is a must when you’re sick.  The mucus that can form will turn into a thin liquid the more you keep hydrated, and it will be easier to expel from your body.  So drink up!

Additions like Manuka honey and fresh slices of lemon will also add to the nutritional density of your cup of tea.

I’m drinking my Manuka honey, lemon, and ginger tea right now.  Manuka honey comes from New Zealand.

There’s a reason it’s called Manuka honey – it comes from honeybees that pollinate the manuka bush.

This special honey will help you recover faster because of the number of antibacterial properties compared to traditional honey.  It’s also loaded with antioxidants and its antiviral and anti-inflammatory.

Manuka honey will coat your throat to bring relief, and it attacks harmful bacteria at the same time!

Echinacea tea

The echinacea tea bags or simmering echinacea root will help reduce the duration and severity of a cold or flu if you start drinking it when the first symptoms appear.

You should drink this tea several times during the day for at least a week.

Rose hip tea

The rose hips are found right below the rose petals.  They are either orange or red.

Rose hip tea is loaded with antioxidants. It also has vitamin A and C that help fight off colds and the flu by supporting your immune system.

Rich in anti-inflammatory compounds, rose hip tea will help ease any aches you get from having the flu.

Freshly harvested rose hips are better than dried rose hips, but you’ll probably want to buy your rose hip tea unless you have lots of roses. If you do harvest your own rose hips, you want to make sure they haven’t been sprayed with pesticides.

Please Note: If you’re pregnant, consult your doctor before drinking this tea because it is a diuretic.

Peppermint tea

The menthol in peppermint leaves can help suppress your cough.  You will find that peppermint is an ingredient in many cough drops.

Peppermint tea also will help you boost your immune system, which will help you recover faster.    It also helps relieve headaches and congestion.

Lemon Ginger tea

You can purchase lemon ginger tea, but making your own tea using fresh lemons and ginger tastes way better and is probably better for you.

The combination of lemon (which is loaded with vitamin C) and fresh ginger (which helps loosen congestion and provides relief to sore throats) is the perfect duo to help you get back on your feet again.

You can find my recipe for lemon ginger tea here.  

Thyme tea

I totally love thyme tea.  You can drink dried thyme or fresh.  I prefer fresh sprigs of thyme from my garden.  I simply put two spring of thyme in a mug and fill it with hot water.  I add either Stevia or honey to sweeten the tea.

Thyme tea helps break up the congestion in your body and is packed with antioxidants.

Cold Remedy tea –

This is my favorite Cold Remedy Tea recipe. It has lemons, lime, oranges, ginger, honey, and turmeric. You can find that recipe here.

7. Popsicles

A few of the cozy living members always have homemade popsicles in their freezers if any of their family members get sick.

You can make them with Manuka honey instead of sugar to boost nutrition.  Here’s a recipe for homemade Elderberry popsicles.  

8. Vitamins and Supplements  

Make sure you have plenty of supplies on hand if you or one of your family members needs a little help getting back on the road to health.

Cough drops 

You read about how wonderful Manuka honey is for fighting colds and the flu. Why not have a supply of cough drops on hand that include it as an ingredient, along with ginger and Echinacea?  You can find these cough-soothers here.  

Elderberry Syrup 

This fantastic syrup is a must-have in your wellness kit.  It can dramatically shorten the amount of time you’re sick by boosting your immunity.  You can make your own or buy this organic brand on Amazon.  

Ester-C 

This supplement will remain active in the body for up to 24 hours, unlike regular Vitamin C.  It’s also less acidic. You can find the Ester-C here.

Wild oregano capsules

Wild oregano helps break up mucus and phlegm in the respiratory tracts and sinuses. You can find wild oregano pills here.

Zinc 

Most people are deficient in zinc.  It’s an excellent mineral to help kill viruses and bugs.  Zinc is one supplement I always have on hand and use regularly.  I use this organic liquid zinc brand from Amazon. 

9. Get plenty of rest

Don’t try and fight fatigue.  You want to get as much rest as your body craves. Make sure the room you set up camp in has curtains or blinds to eliminate the light so you can fall asleep whenever you can.

10. Heating pad

Heating pads help soothe sore muscles and add warmth when you get the chills.  You can find one here on Amazon.  

11. Stretch

When you’re feeling under the weather, it can be tempting to curl up on the day, but gentle stretching can actually help ease some of the discomfort that comes with being sick.

Stretching promotes blood circulation, which can aid in reducing muscle tension and stiffness often caused by long periods of rest.

Just remember to listen to your body and take it slow.

We all know that cats and dogs are expert-level stretchers. Why shouldn’t we follow their example?

12. Soothing Soup

Mom was right when she gave you chicken soup whenever you came down with a cold or the flu. It’s something our bodies crave when we don’t feel well.

I always have chicken bone broth in my freezer, ready to use whenever I want to make a homemade pot of nourishing soup. You can find my recipe for Slow Cooker Chicken Bone Broth here.  

Another idea is a mug of miso soup. It’s rich in antioxidants that help improve our immune systems.  It also provides us with several B vitamins and Vitamin E.

13. Candles and Fairy Lights

I love magical glow fairy lights and candles give a room.  When I’m sick, I always use battery-operated faux candles because I never know when I’m going to drift off to sleep.

14. Hot Bath or Shower

Your bathtub is your friend when you’re trying to get over a cold or flu.  The hot water helps soothe sore muscles.

You can make your own sinus-clearing bath bombs here for added comfort.  

15. Soothing Music  

Have a playlist ready for when you’re feeling under the weather.  You want to put together a list of songs that relax your mind and your body.

16. Say “Yes!”

People in your life like to help.  Take their assistance when you’re not feeling well and return the favor whenever they need some.

If a friend, family member, or neighbor asks what they can do for you – let them help fill your needs.  The last thing anyone needs is a sick person to run errands and infect others in their wake.

We’ve reached the end of How to Hygge When You’re Sick.  I hope you enjoyed it.

Let me know in the comments below how you liked the How to Hygge When You’re Sick post and if you included any of the ideas in your life.

My friend Carly wrote an article on Little Sleepies Review for finding the best cozy pajamas for kids. You can find it here.

Make sure you join our Creating a Cozy Life Facebook Group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is! 

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Thanks for stopping by. I’m so happy you found us!

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