Typically, when you let your boss know you are staying home sick, you will get a, “Okay, feel better,” or a, “I will still need those TPS reports,” reply. Not in my case. When I texted my boss this morning to let him know I was working from home because the sickness that is ravaging Spartan HQ finally caught up to me, he replied with, “It's about time. Turmeric!"

Thanks, boss.

He's not wrong, however! Turmeric is just one homeopathic remedy available at our disposal when the common cold comes knocking. Typically our first instinct is to run to the pharmacy and flood our body with medicine and antibiotics, but there is a better way, Spartans. Let's go over a few ways, shall we?

1. To Hell With Cold Showers...For Now

Let's face it, cold showers are not fun. Yes, they build mental toughness, increase alertness, promote muscle recovery, and have a whole host of other benefits, but there is a better option when you are sick. Chances are, you have a lot of phlegm and mucus build-up in your sinuses and chest. A hot shower helps loosen everything up and clear your head. So just for a day or two, say “no” to the devil's icy touch and crank that shower setting to “hot, hot hot.”

2. Bone Broth. The Nectar of the Gods

Just like we've always been told to have chicken soup when sick, bone broth supports gut and immune system health. Whether it's used in soups or just heated up in a mug, there are a ton of ways to enjoy bone broth. Even more so, now that we know so much of your immune system lies in your gut. So, drink up!

3. Get Outside and Ground Yourself

Just like SGX coach Emily Abbate wrote about, get outside. Walk around barefoot, get down to the beach, take your dog out for a walk because he's sitting at the door staring at you and won't let you leave until he gets his walk in. It's easy to stay cooped up inside all day, but the moment you get outside and get some fresh air, you will instantly start to feel better.

4. Homemade Tonic Time

While scouring the interwebs one day, I came across a homemade tonic recipe. I drink it almost every morning, now. Just boil some water, and toss in sliced lemon, turmeric, cayenne pepper, minced ginger, a little apple cider vinegar, some honey, and black pepper. Combining black pepper with turmeric makes the turmeric more bioavailable. Piperine, found in black pepper, increases absorption of curcumin, found in turmeric, in the body. For all you non-PhD recipients out there, this means turmeric is more easily absorbed in the body when combined with black pepper. This Murderer's Row of ingredients will have you conquering your sickness in no time.

5. Drink More Water

Like I said, when you are sick, it's easy to lie in bed all day. Chances are you will become pretty dehydrated if you do that. Make sure you are drinking plenty of fluids, and even throw a pinch of sea salt in your water. The salt helps with water retention and provides trace minerals you are probably missing from being sick.

If none of the above works, then you can always call SGX coach Jason Jaksetic to come scare the sickness out of you.

Looking to conquer your cold? Download The Free Spartan Smoothie Guide as your blueprint. #noexcuses