P.S And the ‘Max Kirsten’ way to avoid one
Flu season must be here, and while we battle our hardest to avoid the first tingle, that dreaded sore throat, and a bout of sneezes are sometimes unavoidable. Many clients tell me about their struggles to sleep with a cold during the colder months. There are gentle ways to get a reasonably good night’s sleep even if you have already started sneezing, though, of course, prevention is always better than cure, which is why I have included one tip to avoid a cold at the end of this article.
Tip 1: Sip Something Warm
Enjoying a warm beverage before bed sounds rather lovely. It’s an excellent remedy for putting a cold to bed, too. The drink’s warmth can help ease congestion and soothe a sore throat. Pour yourself a cup of soothing comfort around an hour or two before you go to sleep; this will ensure you do not need to get up shortly after getting into bed. Also, make sure your drink is caffeine-free; drinking tea, coffee, and other caffeinated beverages too close before bedtime can wake your brain up and make it harder to switch off. For extra snooze points, go for something like lavender tea for its calming effects or lemon and ginger to further soothe your throat, and you’ll be all set to relax when the clock strikes ‘bedtime’.
Tip 2: Heat things up
Jumping in the shower before you relax for the evening can have some refreshing benefits if you have a cold. Firstly, it will help lower your body temperature, which encourages melatonin production and prepares your body for rest. Even better, the steamy, hot water can help drain mucus from your sinuses, making breathing easier. This is key to a healthy night’s sleep, positively calming your nervous system and encouraging you to drift off. Focusing on the rise and fall of your breath and letting yourself go with each exhale can help you relax and fall into a deep, delicious night’s sleep.
Tip 3: Cool things down
Ready, set, snooze: Setting your thermostat to a sleep-friendly setting of around 18.5 degrees is another way to help you sleep better with a cold. Lowering your body temperature around an hour before bed paves the way to a good night’s sleep. A cold can naturally raise our temperature, combined with a high heating setting is not a good mix for a restful sleep. Adjust the setting or set up your heating system to lower in the evening so you are in for a good night’s sleep (with or without a cold).
The Max Kirsten way to avoid a cold (as promised)
For those who read this Blog’s end, this is for you. While an array of vitamins promises to boost your immunity throughout the flu season, an easier way to avoid a cold is to get to bed half an hour earlier every night. Sleep provides essential support to your immune system, and this will stop you from getting run down and becoming vulnerable to the dreaded ‘aches’, sore throat, and coughing. If you are looking for a relaxing way to stay well throughout the next few months, book yourself in for some slightly earlier nights and sleep easy.
Wishing you a healthy, rested flu season,
Max
