Flu Season Survival – How to Stay Productive When You’re Sick

Last week, the flu hit me like a freight train.

Fever, chills, body aches—the full package.

I spent a few days in total misery before finally starting to feel human again.

While I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, I did remember to do a few things that I knew actually help when you’re stuck with the flu.

Step 1: Recognize the Symptoms Early

At first, I told myself it was just a little cold. Big mistake.

Within hours, I was completely wiped out. These were my first warning signs:

Sudden, intense fatigue that made even standing feel like a challenge
Chills one minute, burning up the next
Body aches that made every joint feel like it was protesting life
A deep, unrelenting cough
A pounding headache that wouldn’t let up
Zero appetite (which is when I knew something was really wrong)
If you start feeling like this, don’t wait. The sooner you rest and hydrate, the better.

After trial, error, and some desperate Amazon orders, I found that these essentials made the biggest difference:

Electrolyte drinks (because plain water just wasn’t enough)
Ibuprofen and acetaminophen, rotated for fever and aches
Soft tissues (trust me, cheap tissues will destroy your nose)
A humidifier running 24/7 to help with congestion
Tea with honey—soothing and warm, plus it helped my cough
Simple foods like soup and crackers (even when I had no appetite, these were manageable)

Unfortunately, life doesn’t pause when you’re sick. Here’s how I handled the essentials:

Work: I set my Slack status to ‘sick’ and only checked emails once a day. No guilt. No overachieving.
Parenting: I let screens do most of the heavy lifting. If my kid was entertained and fed, I called it a win.
Household tasks: Everything non-essential was ignored. Laundry? Piled up. Dishes? Left in the sink. Survival mode was the only priority.

Some things worked better than others. Here’s what really made a difference:

Hydration: Drinking tons of water, herbal tea, and broth kept me from feeling worse.
Steam therapy: A hot shower or inhaling steam helped me breathe when congestion was at its worst.
Medication: Fever reducers, decongestants, and cough syrup took the edge off my worst symptoms.
Actual rest: I forced myself to sleep as much as possible, and I know that helped me recover faster.

I kept an eye on my symptoms, and thankfully, I didn’t have to see a doctor.

But if you’re experiencing any of these, don’t wait:

Difficulty breathing or chest pain
A fever that won’t break after four days
Feeling dizzy or unable to keep fluids down
Symptoms improving and then suddenly getting worse
Flu symptoms in someone at high risk (young kids, elderly, or immunocompromised)

Recovering from the flu took longer than I wanted, but I learned that trying to push through only makes it worse.

Rest, hydration, and giving myself permission to do less were key.

If you’re sick right now, take care of yourself. Everything else can wait.