Covid-19 care: Here are 5 things I’ve been doing to speed up my recovery

Recovery from Covid-19 is certainly not linear; you may have ups and downs every single day. Here are a few things that helped me a lot!
covid-19 recovery tips
Eat healthy, and feel better. Image courtesy: Shutterstock
Geetika Sachdev Updated: 19 Jan 2022, 21:35 pm IST
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It was about 10 days ago that I woke up with a sore throat. Let me tell you that I am a self-proclaimed over-thinker, so this made my mind run into a real tizzy. All along, I hoped in my heart that this was just another way of Delhi tormenting me with its sardi (cold). But to my horror, I woke up with a terrible body ache the next day, and my heart pounding as if it’s literally going to fall out. To my dismay, I had to get tested for Covid-19, and I turned out to be positive. Call it my luck or whatever, I had escaped the last two waves, and was rather a little too confident that I may be spared by the clutches of the virus. My dream was truly short-lived.

Once the test was done, I knew I had to make conscious efforts to speed up my recovery from Covid-19. The very first thing I did, and so should you, is to isolate yourself. Yes, it feels terrible and impacts your mental health too. But a girl gotta to do some things, and I knew this can’t be ignored. Post that, I stocked up on a few essentials to give me company during this self-imposed lockdown. An oxymeter, a few strips of multivitamin and zinc, lots of coconut water, and fresh fruits and veggies. I also made sure to get ample rest, and minimised screen time as much as I could.

Now that you have an idea of what I did, let’s get to the details.

1. Fill your plate with fresh fruits and veggies:

You may not want to eat anything, because Covid-19 drains your body of all energy. But that’s exactly why you must get your fill of fresh fruits and veggies. I made sure to consume everything from spinach to drumsticks, and also had oranges and apples every single day (hello, vitamin C). I hated the sight of food, but I knew my body needed it!

2. The power of protein:

Ever since the first wave hit, a lot of my friends who had tested positive for Covid-19, could not stop singing praises for protein. Most of them said that it helped them to recover soon. Armed with this knowledge, I decided to give it a shot too. Boiled eggs and chicken became a staple during all meals. Again, I hated the taste, but I felt that it helped me regain my strength.

post-covid recovery
A high-protein diet is not for everyone. Image courtesy: Shutterstock

3. Nosh on warm foods and drinks:

Dare not touch cold foods; I say DARE NOT! Your throat is anyway waging a war (thanks to the virus), and you wouldn’t want to irritate it further. And in case you get hit by the Omicron variant, your throat feels scratchy all the time. Soothe it with a warm bowl of soup peppered with the goodness of chicken and veggies. You could also make a broth and slurp it up! If you do not feel like consuming proper meals, try having khichdi laden with fresh veggies. Ditch the curd and pickles for now!

Also, keep yourself hydrated with warm water. You could also make a homemade kadha that has herbs and a dash of honey! The only exception is coconut water, I say. But again, have it at room temperature.

4. The multivitamin magic:

Now you won’t really have your usual appetite, but your body definitely needs nutrients in good measure. I consumed a multivitamin tablet every morning after breakfast, and also took a zinc supplement. The doctor prescribed this, and I couldn’t say NO!

5. Rest as much as possible:

Let me tell you this is the secret ingredient to a good post-Covid recovery. You may be utterly bored and want to catch up on all the OTT shows you’ve missed out on earlier, but spare your body of all the exertion. Sleep well, and get enough rest as you can. Your body is enduring an infection, and needs ample time to get through this. So, you really MUST co-operate!

post-covid recovery
Sleep well! Image courtesy: Shutterstock

The last word

It has been over a week now, and while the other symptoms have largely disappeared, the post-Covid fatigue remains. I continue to follow these tips even now, because they’ve been working pretty well for me. Oh and make sure along with these steps, you gargle and take steam regularly.

The battle has been half-won. Now it’s about taking baby steps to reach the finish line. Happy recovery to me, and to all those who are in the same boat!

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About the Author

An independent writer and journalist, Geetika loves sharp and fresh humour, just like her coffee! If not writing, you'll find her cafe-hopping and raiding the best book stores in town. ...Read More

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