I’m sharing Zicam® in my life as part of a sponsored series with Socialstars, all opinions of how to shorten a cold are my own.
You don’t have time to be sick! Discover how to shorten a cold in 5 easy steps, so you can get back to feeling better faster!
It’s that time of year. The kids are back in school and germs are spreading like the petri dish is having a raving party! And you know they will be bringing those same germs and viruses into your home!
As a Mom, I don’t have time to be sick. I have to make sure all the kids get off to school early in the morning. I have the house to clean, meals to prepare, and Holiday projects to complete.
I also have a VERY active Toddler underfoot all day long that doesn’t let mommy have a moment’s peace.
And somewhere in all of that chaos, I have to find time to work on the website, edit photos, answer emails, and deal with all the stressful website development issues that come up.
This is the busiest time of the year for me. There is definitely no way I have time to be sick.
And it’s not just me! We’re all busy! You and me, the kid’s bus driver, your child’s school teacher, and that neighbor down the street. Who has time to lay around and sleep all day, especially around the holiday season?
And seriously whoever said they wanted to catch a common cold? No one!
But it’s not a matter of IF the kids bring that cold home from school, but a matter of WHEN they will bring it home from school. And they never pick an opportune time when you have a completely nothing pressing to do and can lay around until it leaves. No, that never happens. That would be too convenient.
No, the kids always bring that nasty virus home in the weeks when we’re the busiest! That’s why one of the best cold shortening hacks is to always keep a supply of Zicam® Cold Remedy products on hand to take at the first sign of the latest cold virus that is cycling around.
Since you don’t have time to be sick either, let me share with you how to shorten a cold in 5 easy steps for when you feel the first signs of that dreaded common cold virus.
How to Shorten a Cold in 5 Steps
1: Zicam® Cold Remedy – One of the best weapons I have in my Common Cold arsenal is Zicam® Cold Remedy!
While Zicam® homeopathic cold remedies do not work instantly, they have been scientifically proven to shorten a cold when taken at the first sign of a cold, from the first sniffling, sneezing and/or a cough.
There are 6 varieties in the Zicam® homeopathic cold remedies family: Oral Mist™, ULTRA CrystalsRapidMelts®, Nasal Swabs, Nasal Spray and now the new Zicam® Cold Remedy Medicated Fruit Drops!
I’m a big fan of the Zicam® Medicated Fruit Drops. They actually taste really good! No more choking down your cold remedy with these babies! The drops come in a mix of 3 delicious flavors such as orange, lemon, and cherry.
At the first sign of a scratchy throat, sniffle, sneeze or a cough, I grab my Zicam® Medicated Fruit Drops! Take one soft fruit drop every three hours until cold symptoms are completely gone.
I keep a supply of Zicam® Medicated fruit drops in my medicine cabinet so there is no need to squeeze in a trip to the store in my already busy schedule. And since they are so portable, I just grab a dose and go!
I also stash a few extra doses in my purse, so I can keep up on my dosing schedule even if I am running errands, or picking kids up or dropping them off at their various activities.
But remember to continue to take Zicam® Cold Remedy until all symptoms completely subside.
Find out more about why the Zicam® Medicated Fruit Drops are the first items you should reach for when you feel a cold coming on.
2: Sleep – We all know that sleep is important. It allows our bodies the opportunity to focus more on fighting off the virus that has affected our body. But since life doesn’t slow down for us, you may be tempted to just keep pushing through your cold.
I know most the time it’s not feasible to take an entire day and rest. So instead, schedule a short power nap for the afternoon. Make it 20 – 30 minutes where you can just sit and rest to allow your body to combat the cold that is trying to take you down.
If you are a mom of school-aged kids, you can’t sleep in the mornings. You have to get up and get those kids to school. So instead, make sure you go to bed at an earlier hour if you can. And actually, GO TO SLEEP! Don’t sit there on Facebook or reading a book. Actually, GO TO SLEEP, and take advantage of an extra hour or two of rest for your body.
3: Drink plenty of liquids – Staying hydrated helps your immune system fight sickness. By drinking fluids, you’re also flushing out the toxins and bad stuff that’s invading your body. Not to mention that it also helps ease sore throats.
Drink plenty of water. To add some comfort, try warm herbal teas. I prefer to steep my herbal tea in a warm apple juice so it tastes just like an apple cider.
You can also try steeping it in warm orange juice or warm lemonade. And you can also add in some Honey and Lemon for added benefits.
But make sure the majority of your liquids each day are water. And then add the herbal tea/juices or chicken broth as added bonus liquids.
Still, have a sore throat? Try some of our other Sore Throat Remedies.
4: Eat healthy foods – we all know that what we eat affects our health. Which is why when you are getting sick, it is extra crucial that you pick your foods carefully so your body has what it needs to fight off the cold. You’ll want to eat plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. Also, this is prime time to enjoy warm hearty soups like a homemade Chicken noodle soup.
Skip the fast food even though you will be tempted since you don’t have to make it yourself. But this food won’t help you feel any better.
5: Take a Hot Shower or bath – Taking a hot shower or soaking in a hot tub when you are feeling sick is an instant Pick me up! It can soothe aching muscles and warm you up. And similar to a humidifier, the steam of a hot shower or bath can help relieve cold or respiratory symptoms. The heat can also ease cold symptoms such as a sore throat and fatigue.
Make it extra nice and add Homemade Bath Salts, a mixture of Epsom Salt and essential oils, to your bath water. These can also make you feel better, and work double duty on your clogged up sinuses.
When you use these 5 steps on how to shorten a cold together, you will be able to get you back to your best self.
**Please note that Zicam® Cold Remedy products are NOT meant for children under 12 years of age. Please always follow the directed dosage and usage instructions on the packaging.**
You can find the Zicam® Cold Remedy products in all your major food, drug and mass merchandise retailers. You will often find them in the cold/cough aisle.
BONUS Tip: The Humidifier!
I know I said I’d share how to shorten a cold in 5 easy steps, but I have an extra bonus task for you as well. Use a Humidifier!
Using a humidifier will help to keep the air moist. Having your sinus cavities moist helps to clear the sinuses and can make breathing easier. If you allow the sinuses to stay clogged, it increases your chance of a sinus infection. Which is the last thing you want to deal with on top of everything else you have going on.
Here in our Utah Desert, I don’t have to worry too much about getting too much humidity, as our air is extremely dry. But those of you in more humid climates will want to also use a humidity gauge to ensure you don’t get too much moisture in your air as that will invite Mold/mildew.
Take it a step further and use essential oils in your humidifier to help clear out your sinuses. Just be sure you Clean the humidifier regularly.
What are your best tips to on how to shorten a cold?