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 number 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 non-public house in public locations… 

The listing 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 night time, I felt a small tickle in my throat, however thought nothing of it. Then Sunday morning, after I wakened, 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 form of was, I hadn’t been sick since December of 2019.  

Though I knew easy methods to method selfcare, I used to be not sure 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. Preserve 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 obtained 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 by way of 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 achieved earlier than; I known 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 advised 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 known as out of labor for having a abdomen bug, and I used to be written up for not giving at the least a 24 hour discover. However I digress.  

As soon as work was taken care of, I wanted to get myself some medication. And naturally, the whole lot that had been accumulating mud within the lavatory 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 change into sparse. So I used to be not sure about this one. However then I made a decision I ought to. As a result of I wish to hope {that a} stranger who was in my sneakers would do the identical factor to stop spreading this summertime chilly to anybody else.  

So I obtained the whole lot 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 truth, 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 better. And as soon as I used to be feeling rather a lot higher, I went again to work. It was enterprise as ordinary.  

Now, the purpose of me sharing this story is as a result of we live in tremendous bizarre occasions. Technically, the pandemic will not be over. However almost 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, however it’s not?  

So as we speak I provide two takeaways for you.  

First, proceed to remain vigilant. Wash your fingers. Keep residence in case you really feel unwell. Preserve your distance from strangers. Simply hold doing all of the issues you could 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 carrying a masks when it’s not required. Don’t decide. Odds are there’s a motive they’re carrying it, and there’s a 100% probability that it’s none of what you are promoting. If you end up sick like myself, attempt to consider others. Perhaps name out of labor in case you can. Attempt to put on a masks in crowded areas and hold your distance from others.  

I might argue that the occasions 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. Protecting distance. However now on this quasi post-pandemic world, everyone seems to be doing what they imagine is finest for themselves and others. So, save the judgement, and do what’s finest for you. We’re all attempting to navigate these bizarre occasions as finest as we will.  

As at all times, keep secure and be properly.