GET WELL SOON!

At the first sign of illness whether it's the sniffles, a cough, or chills-take these steps throughout the day to feel better faster.

7:00 A.M. - CONSIDER CALLING IN SICK

The first morning you wake up feeling as if a cold has moved in-you're stuffy, a cough is brewing, and your brain is far from focused-you need unlimited access to rest. Don't think you'll be a hero if you drag yourself into work; you'll likely just feel lousy longer, says Chris D'Adamo, Ph.D., director of research at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. And you'll be spreading your germs: You're most contagious for the first two to three days, when you're sneezing and coughing up a storm.

7:15 A.M. TEST FOR COVID-19

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking an at-home test as soon as you develop symptoms that could indicate COVID-19 such as sore throat, congestion, cough, fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and diarrhea. If the result is positive, stay home for at least five days and isolate from others, tell anyone you were in close contact with, and alert your doctor if you're over 50, you have an underlying condition, or your symptoms worsen. If it's negative and you still have symptoms, stay home and retest in 24 to 48 hours.

7:30 A.M. STEAM UP, RINSE OUT

Climb into a hot shower. Warm, moist air helps hydrate the membranes in your nose and throat so mucus can drain more freely, says Andrew Weil, M.D., founder and director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine. When you get out, you can use a neti pot to help thin and flush away anything that's still stuffing you up as well as some of the germs in there, he says.

8:00 A.M. MAKE TIME FOR TEA