There’s nothing more frustrating than trying to sleep when you’re sick. From painful head pounding to seemingly endless sniffling and coughing, sleep can feel impossible. And unfortunately, things just seem to get worse at night.
Here’s the thing: Sleep is essential when you’re sick. That’s because sleep is a restorative process that helps the body recover from cold and flu.
If you’re tired of sick-filled sleepless nights, give these five tips a try. While getting a good night’s rest may not be easy, you owe it to your body to at least give sleep a shot.
Stick with a normal bedtime routine.
When fighting off the crud, the body is out of balance. As a result, it's easy to sleep all day and stay up all night. While daytime sleep can be helpful, it can throw the natural sleep cycle out of whack.
In general, good sleep starts with consistency. According to the Mayo Clinic, a consistent sleep schedule reinforces the body's sleep-wake cycle and helps promote better sleep.
So even if you sleep during the day, try to go to sleep at the same time you would if you felt well. This will give your body the boost it needs to recover. And your days and nights won’t be turned around once you recover.