A Muggle’s Guide to Surviving a Cold Without Magic
Sometimes being a Muggle is great! We don’t have to deal with evil wizards or giant spiders. Unfortunately, there are many problems that Muggles face that wizards never really have to deal with. Right now, I’m talking about the common cold. Wizards have this lovely thing called Pepper-Up Potion, which is used to cure colds. It does have the unfortunate side effect of steam coming out of your ears for a few hours after, but honestly, I’d rather deal with that than an excessive amount of cold medicine and a mountain of used tissues. Since this isn’t really an option for us, I thought that it would be a great idea to share some tips on how to add some magic to your next cold.
Cast Aguamenti!
Staying hydrated is a very important part of being sick. You really don’t want to be dehydrated while your body is trying to fight a cold. A great tip is to take your body weight and divide it in half. That number is how many ounces of water you should be consuming on a daily basis. If you aren’t a fan of drinking plain water, I recommend adding a slice of lemon to a nice cool glass of water. It will hydrate you and taste good. Hot tea with honey and lemon is also a great thing to drink while you’re sick. Just try to avoid caffeinated tea.
Eat what you want.
I am a huge fan of trying to eat healthily, but sometimes that doesn’t work when you aren’t feeling great. When I was a kid, my mother told me to eat what I’m hungry for when I’m sick. I always follow this advice. My body knows what it needs better than I do, so when it tells me it needs sugar, salt, soup, pizza, etc., I always try to give it what it wants.
Be comfortable!
Wear sweatpants and stay in bed all day if you can. If you’re stuck going to work or school, then wear some really comfy socks and a cozy sweater. It will help a lot. Just make sure that your sweater has pockets for your tissues and cough drops.
Keep yourself entertained.
Sick days are the best times for Harry Potter movie marathons. Stay in bed all day and revisit Hogwarts. If you’re feeling up to it, try rereading your favorite book or listening to your favorite podcast. Keeping yourself entertained and distracted will help you feel better. Take this time for yourself.
The most important thing to remember is to stay strong. This cold won’t last forever. I know it feels like it will never end, but you’ll get better soon. Just remember to take care of yourself and take it easy for a few days.
