[♪INTRO].

Hey there. I just got over a cold... so today I wanted to talk about taking care of yourself when you're sick.

I invited my friend and writer of this episode, Kate Whittle, to help me out. [ding]. Being sick can be the worst. At least when I was a kid, my mom would bring me orange juice and put on a good movie for me.

Now that we're adults, we have to bring ourselves the orange juice. So let's talk about some tactics for adulting while you're under the weather. But here's an important disclaimer:.

We are not medical professionals, and this video is not a substitute for seeking medical help in the case of a serious illness. Okay... Let's go. [Kate and Rachel fake a sneeze simultaneously].

Step 1: Take preventative measures. Yeah, sorry, we know, maybe you already are doing this stuff, but it bears repeating:. Try to get enough sleep!

Exercise! Drink water! Wash your hands!

Avoid cigarettes! Eat nutritious food! Get your flu shot!

Ouch! If you do all these things and still catch a bug, hey, it happens. You can never have 100% control over whether or not you get sick, so don't beat yourself up if you do.

Step 2: Head it off at the first sign. If you're noticing some warning signs of impending illness, try to pay attention to them. They might include feeling weird and tired and muscle-achey, or a little bit sniffly, or feeling a tickle at the back of your throat.

If you can, try to really go gentle on yourself. Go to bed early, and drink plenty of fluids. Hopefully by giving yourself a rest, your body can fight off the virus or whatever it is quickly.

Step 3: Combat the physical symptoms. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, we do get sick. And if you're an adult, you probably need to deal with a normal adult amount of responsibilities.

Here are some ideas for simple things that can soothe your suffering. Got a thermos or travel mug? [chimes SFX]. Fill it with hot, non-caffeinated tea and honey and carry that with you everywhere.

Carry a bag stocked with everything you need, like soft Kleenex, cough drops and hand sanitizer. Consider grabbing some over the counter medications that can help with coughing, pain, and stuffiness. Set up a humidifier in your room to help you breathe easier, and try to change the water each day.

If your sinuses are stuffy, Neti pots are a great way to loosen things up. You can usually find them in the pharmacy section of most grocery stores, but it's really important to follow the instructions on the bottle, and ALWAYS use distilled or sterile water. Soup can be a great way to get more fluids and soothe a sore throat, but take care to avoid overly salty ones.

And try to eat things that have real fruits and vegetables in them, if you can. Step 4: Narrow your to-do list down as much as possible. Figure out which things you absolutely have to do, and then delegate or postpone everything else.

Even if you can't take time off from work or school, contact your boss or your professors to ask if you can do some work at home and keep your germs away from them. If you can, avoid public places to prevent spreading the illness. If someone wants to shake your hand, do them a favor and explain that you don't want to spread your bug.

If going to the grocery store sounds awful, depending on where you live, there might be a smartphone app available to help you order food and supplies and have them delivered. If you don't have access to an app like this, and if you ask really graciously, a friend or family member or co-worker might also be willing to swing by the grocery store for you. Step 5: Take care of your emotions!

Being sick can make even the toughest person feel like a whiny baby. Now's a great time to put on your softest sweatshirt and indulge in your most comforting. TV, music, magazines or books.

If social media stresses you out… consider limiting it. And, if you're staying home from work and you don't have to stay in touch, turn off all of your work notifications and email. Oh, and take care what you decide to watch, too.

Violent or really intense shows always seem to really stress me out more when I'm sick. Zombies stress me out. It's okay to reach out to your friends or family if you need help, too.

Whether it's the aforementioned grabbing groceries or just talking to you on the phone, the people you're close with will probably want to help you out if they can. Step 6: Seek medical attention if it's the right situation. For your average viral cold or flu, there's not a whole lot that a doctor can do.

But if your symptoms have been bad for more than a week or two, you might want to head to a walk-in clinic. If you're on the fence about it, some hospitals offer a free “Call a Nurse” hotline where you can talk to a registered nurse about your symptoms and what's going on. Remember, going to the emergency room is expensive and not the best place for a minor illness.

See if a walk-in community clinic is in your area; some are now even located in pharmacies like CVS. Disclaimer: We are still not medical professionals so their advice trumps anything we have to say. Trying to get things done while you're sick really sucks, but hopefully these tips can help.

If you want to see more episodes like this one, check us out at youtube.com/learnhowtoadult. And if you're looking for more health-related content, check out one of our sister channels,. Healthcare Triage at youtube.com/healthcaretriage.

Feel better soon! 1, 2, 3, sneeze. Okay. 1... 2... 3... [weakly] choo... Okay.

Um... I'll just put it in my mug. [laughter]. I'm going to do finger guns unless you guys don't want me to.

I just have that weird habit. [off-screen] Finger guns are good. Try to get enough sleep! Oh boy. [laughter].

Ha—is this too loud? [silence] [laughter] [off-screen] There was no sound! [off-screen] As long as it's totally silent. Yes. I don't want the germs.

Explain that you don't want to spread your bug. Fist bump. [laughter]. Can we auto-tune it?