Gentle care for seasonal sickness
After a second bout of COVID, I was reminded of something simple but easy to forget: our bodies speak – and when they do, they’re asking for kindness, not productivity.
Seasonal sickness is inevitable. Colds, flu, lingering viruses – they arrive whether we plan for them or not. And while we often want to push through, these days invite us to tend, not conquer.
Here are a few gentle ways to move through sick days with care and grace.
🕯️ 1. Let Rest Be the Assignment
This is not the season for catching up or powering through. Rest is not a reward – it’s part of healing. Quiet, naps, and stillness allow the body to do its unseen work.
🍲 2. Simple Chicken Soup for Weak Days
This is less a recipe and more a method – forgiving, nourishing, and easy.
Simple Healing Chicken Soup
- Chicken broth (homemade or good-quality store bought)
- Cooked chicken (rotisserie works beautifully)
- Carrots, celery, onion
- Garlic (as much as feels good)
- Salt, pepper, and a pinch of thyme
Simmer gently until everything is soft and comforting. This kind of soup doesn’t rush – it waits for you.
🍵 3. A Gentle Tea for Comfort & Congestion
A warm mug can feel like medicine all on its own.
Soothing Tea Blend
- Chamomile (calming, comforting)
- Ginger (warming, supportive)
- Peppermint (helps breathing, eases the stomach)
- A little honey, if desired
Steep slowly. Sip slowly. Let warmth do what it does best.
🌿 4. Simple Herbal Supports
Nothing fancy – just gentle allies:
- Elderberry for immune support
- Ginger for warmth and circulation
- Garlic for its natural protective properties
- Thyme for coughs and chest comfort
Use what you already have. Healing doesn’t need to be complicated.
🕊️ 5. Release the Pressure
Illness has a way of stripping life down to essentials. On these days, enough looks different – and that’s okay. The emails can wait. The world will keep spinning. Your job is to heal.
There is grace even here – in cancelled plans, in slow mornings, in bowls of soup and quiet prayers whispered between naps. Sometimes healing is not about getting back to life quickly, but about letting life hold us gently until we’re ready to return
When your body asks you to slow down, what helps you feel most cared for – physically or spiritually?
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
— Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)
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