So that you’re sick, now what?

Taking Care of Your self and Others with A Chilly Throughout a Pandemic  

Though there have been various terrible issues which have resulted within the pandemic, there have additionally been a couple of good issues which have modified that all of us hope keep everlasting. These are issues like working from residence, employers giving ample sick time, individuals lastly understanding the idea of private house in public locations… 

The checklist goes on and on. 

One among my favourite issues although, is that I’ve not been sick since three months earlier than the pandemic began. This was the final word win. Till the fourth of July weekend. On Saturday evening, I felt a small tickle in my throat, however thought nothing of it. Then Sunday morning, once I awakened, I felt like I used to be hit by a bus. Physique aches, sore throat, nasal congestion, the entire thing.  

My speedy thought was, “oh okay, that is only a chilly.” I didn’t have a fever, or cough. And at this level, I’ve been vaccinated for 2 months, so there isn’t a approach that it was COVID. It was only a summertime chilly. Nothing out of the extraordinary. Besides it sort of was, I hadn’t been sick since December of 2019.  

Though I knew easy methods to strategy selfcare, I used to be uncertain easy methods to go about day-to-day life. In any case, we’re nonetheless within the pandemic. I knew I wanted to take a nasal decongestant. Hold the cough drops, tissues, and tea available. However I didn’t know easy methods to do “life” whereas I used to be sick. Earlier than the pandemic, if I received sick, I might take some medication, suck it up and be on my approach. I might nonetheless go to work, faculty, and shops with out giving it a second thought. Afterall, I couldn’t put my whole life on maintain for a foolish little chilly.  

However now that we’ve gone via the pandemic, and seen some critical loss; I discovered myself saying, “possibly I ought to put my life on maintain for this.” So I did one thing that I usually would by no means have accomplished earlier than; I referred to as out of labor…for a chilly.  

At first I used to be nervous about what my supervisor would say. It was a Sunday, and a vacation. However to my shock, he was extremely understanding and even informed me to take on a regular basis that I wanted. Earlier than the pandemic, that is one thing that by no means would have occurred. And I solely say this as a result of there was one time in highschool that I referred to as out of labor for having a abdomen bug, and I used to be written up for not giving not less than a 24 hour discover. However I digress.  

As soon as work was taken care of, I wanted to get myself some medication. And naturally, every thing that had been accumulating mud within the rest room cupboard had expired. After 18 months of masking up and vigilant handwashing, there was no want for any of that stuff. So I needed to go to the shop, however then I discovered myself questioning whether or not I ought to put on a masks or not. At this cut-off date, I haven’t wanted to put on one in shops for 10 weeks, and I had been vaccinated for two months. The variety of COVID instances in my space had develop into sparse. So I used to be uncertain about this one. However then I made a decision I ought to. As a result of I prefer to hope {that a} stranger who was in my footwear would do the identical factor to stop spreading this summertime chilly to anybody else.  

So I received every thing I wanted on the retailer, and I headed again residence. After which, I did nothing for 4 days.  

I slept, rested, watched approach an excessive amount of Netflix, and took care of myself. And everybody was cool with it. I used to be not judged, or belittled. In actual fact, I used to be inspired by everybody who knew I used to be sick (together with my supervisor) to take on a regular basis I wanted to get well. And as soon as I used to be feeling rather a lot higher, I went again to work. It was enterprise as typical.  

Now, the purpose of me sharing this story is as a result of we live in tremendous bizarre instances. Technically, the pandemic isn’t over. However practically everybody and their mom is vaccinated. Most locations don’t require masks anymore. Persons are occurring trip, to eating places, and to amusement parks. It’s like life is regular, but it surely’s not?  

So in the present day I supply two takeaways for you.  

First, proceed to remain vigilant. Wash your fingers. Keep residence for those who really feel unwell. Hold your distance from strangers. Simply preserve doing all of the issues you will have been doing since March 2020.  

Second (and most necessary), be affected person and type with your self and others. If you happen to exit and about and see somebody sporting a masks when it’s not required. Don’t choose. Odds are there’s a cause they’re sporting it, and there’s a 100% likelihood that it’s none of your online business. If you end up sick like myself, attempt to consider others. Possibly name out of labor for those who can. Attempt to put on a masks in crowded areas and preserve your distance from others.  

I might argue that the instances we’re in now are even stranger than when the pandemic first began. When the pandemic first began, everybody was doing the identical factor. Washing fingers. Sporting masks. Preserving distance. However now on this quasi post-pandemic world, everyone seems to be doing what they consider is finest for themselves and others. So, save the judgement, and do what’s finest for you. We’re all making an attempt to navigate these bizarre instances as finest as we will.  

As all the time, keep protected and be nicely.