I love when people suggest to me to “Just take it easy.” Mentally, that has never been an option for me.

I either go hard or I just don’t go at all which in my mind is being lazy and usually lasts a Sunday. Even as a mom to a toddler, my lazy Sunday still involves a trip to the grocery store, workout, cleaning and running around at the park for an hour. Come Monday though, I’m back at it.

When I’m pregnant, people (mainly of the baby boomer generation) love to tell me to “take it easy” like I need permission or a reminder at the least. I’m gonna be honest though, when I’m full of energy and feeling great like I have been, I’m not going to push on the brakes. Would anyone? Pregnancy might have been a time for women to rest back in the day but now, many pregnant women I know are taking spin classes up until the very end of their pregnancy.

If I get sick though and I’m not feeling well… then maybe yeah, I need a little permission and reminder to take it easy.

I had been healthy for so long, it was only a matter of time that my suppressed immune system would take a hit.

Wednesday was record-breaking warm, 72 degrees in Boston to be exact. I swore we would spend all day outside and we did with the exception of about 2 hours, 45 minutes for my workout and the rest for lunch and quick email catch up.

At the end of the day, I was spent. You know when you can just tell you’re going to be sick the next day? That was me Wednesday night wanting to go to bed at 8 pm. But of course after Tommy went to bed and we ate dinner, I stayed up until 9. I got into bed at 9:30 and was asleep by 10… I think.

As soon as I woke up, my nose was runny, head throbbed, my cough incessant and just didn’t want to get up. It was even hard to breathe. I felt so hot too, but no fever.

Luckily, Thursday and Fridays are daycare days. I usually plug away at work but I cancelled a scheduled shoot yesterday and went back to bed after dropping Tommy off at daycare.

It was the first time in two years that I voluntarily gave myself a “sick day.”

I had norovirus when Tommy was 9 months old where I legit was bed ridden with no choice for about 2 full days and relied on family to care for my son but this was the first time that I could just “take it easy.” I knew nothing was going to get done and I accepted that it would be a lazy day, sort of. I posted a picture on Instagram and felt like that was my “work” for the day. Yes, I agree the previous sentence is ridiculous but it’s true. I also had no idea what “Netflix and Chill” meant… I thought the meaning was literal, it’s not. If you saw my stories, you know what I’m talking about.

I also asked Facebook for some natural remedies since being pregnant keeps me from taking my favorite OTC cough and cold medicine.

The ones that I did was drink a concoction of apple cider vinegar, warm water and honey. I would have had lemon but did not have any at home. I also sniffed some peppermint essential oils and drank lots and lots of water. I also grabbed a green fireball drink from Juice Press made with cayenne, lemon, ginger and other disgusting things. It was terrible but I did it in the name of hoping to feel better asap. Here are the rest of the tips. 

After daycare, Tommy wasn’t in the most cheerful mood either so we snuggled on the couch and watched TV. 

For dinner, I ordered take out from by CHLOE via Door Dash, my favorite meal delivery app, not sponsored I swear, just a big fan. Get $15 off your first order with this referral link. By CHLOE is a vegan, fast food restaurant essentially and I wanted comfort food but also food that was loaded with nutrients. We got the meatball sub, guac burger, macaroni and cheese as well as some fries and a cookie. The guac burger was our favorite hands down.

So why am I sharing this? Because it worked.

I feel so much better today. Apparently “taking it easy” really does work (insert baby boomer eye roll). Normally, I’d push myself but we are leaving for Miami tomorrow morning to visit family for the weekend and I didn’t want to be miserable!

Easier said than done when it comes to lying low. Most of us don’t have the luxury to do this. We have jobs with limited vacation/sick days. We do not have alternate care givers. We don’t get paid if we don’t work! However, yesterday I was given the perfect situation to take advantage of taking it easy and I am so glad I did.

Not feeling well while having a toddler and being pregnant is not fun. I’m hoping for a full recovery asap but know I’m not going to be 100% in Miami but think the nice weather might help!

What is your go to remedy for having a terrible cold while pregnant?

Many people suggested that Sudafed was OK to take per their doctor however, I didn’t take anything with Tommy (not even caffeine) so I’m a nervous to stray from my habits since he turned out so healthy. I am drinking one cup of coffee this time around, hallelujah.