How to Build the Ultimate Sick Day Kit

No matter what you do to prevent germs and illness, it always seems to creep up at the worst times. Many of us are told to power through our sickness and go on with the day, but this isn’t always the best way to get over it. Not only can you spread your illness to others like this, but moving around and not getting extra sleep can hold you back from getting better.

So what do you do when you’ve been hit with an unexpected illness and are stuck at home all day? Pull out your ultimate sick day kit, of course! If you don’t already have one, read on to get some ideas on what to put in your sick day kit:

First Aid Essentials

It’s always important to have some first aid items on hand. After all, you never know what you’re going to need, or when you’re going to need it. Some extra-common items you may want to consider putting in your sick day kit are:

— Bandages of various sizes, as well as gauze

— Kleenex and sanitary wipes

— Hot and ice packs

— Bandage wraps

— Lotions and ointments like burn cream and Neosporin

— Painkillers like ibuprofen or Tylenol

You want to make sure that your sick day package is well-rounded in the first aid department. And don’t hesitate to add more if you feel something’s necessary for your health or peace of mind!

Tip: Take some multivitamins while you’re sick to get all the nutrients you need. Consider adding essential oils such as lavender for stress and fatigue, and peppermint for coughs and sinus issues.

Healthy and Comfort Food

Clean eating is a great thing to practice every day for your overall health, but it’s also smart to keep easy-to-make keep backups in your pantry and freezer for sick days.

Some items you can keep in the healthy food department that won’t perish easily include:

— Canned soup

— Herbal tea

— Honey can help soothe a sore throat either on its own or in your tea

— Oatmeal is an easy way to get some healthy protein in

— Electrolyte-based drinks like electrolyte water or Gatorade

For the not-so-healthy foods, find a snack or two you like and set them aside for sick days, too. It’s okay to have some chocolate, ice cream, or chips if you’re feeling down and under the weather, just make sure you balance it out with healthy, nutrient-dense foods to keep your recovery running smoothly.

Extra Sick Day Comforts

Beyond adding comfort foods and snacks, you’ll also want to include a few extra fun and comforting items in your sick day kit. Do you find yourself gravitating toward a specific fuzzy blanket when you’re stuck in bed or on the couch? Make sure it’s easily accessible for when the dreaded day comes that you need to stay home and sleep away your sickness.

If you have a heating pad, add that to the sick day kit, too — it’s one of the best items to use when you have sore muscles or cramps. Plus, heating pads come in all shapes and sizes. Some even look like stuffed animals and have essential oils embedded in them!

If you’re an avid reader, consider setting aside some books dedicated to sick days. They can be books you’ve never read, or ones you’ve read a hundred times and just love revisiting. On the flip side, if you love TV and movies, create a sick day watch queue: either on a notepad in your sick day kit, or on a streaming service or DVR.

Surviving the Sick Day

Getting sick out of the blue can really put a damper on your day. The physical aspect of illness can prevent you from doing daily tasks or ruin planned events, but the emotional effects of being sick can really make you feel mentally drained. That’s why it’s so important to tend to both of these when you’re not feeling your best.

Having an ultimate sick day kit prepared for both the physical and mental impact of illness is a great way to help make time go faster. Illnesses and germs need to run their course and may not go away in one day. But with a sick day kit on hand, you’ll at least be comfortable and prepared while you wait for it to pass.