Gentle Healing When Life Can’t Pause Natural, Free Ways to Support Your Body Through Sickness (Especially for Moms)

Getting sick is inconvenient for anyone — but when you’re a homeschooling mom with animals to tend, meals to make, and a home that doesn’t pause, it can feel downright impossible to truly rest. Over the past week, as I’ve been under the weather, I found myself leaning into simple, natural supports and accepting help where I could. It felt worth sharing — not as medical advice, but as encouragement and gentle ideas for other moms walking through the same season.

This isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about doing enough to support healing while life keeps moving.

Start With the Free (and Often Forgotten) Healers

Before supplements or special remedies, our bodies respond deeply to the basics — the things that cost nothing but intention.

☀️ Sunlight

Even 10–15 minutes of sunlight can help regulate circadian rhythm, support vitamin D levels, and gently boost mood. When I couldn’t manage much else, stepping outside with a warm drink or opening the curtains made a noticeable difference.

Try this: Sit outside while kids do independent work, or stand in the sun while feeding animals.

🌬 Fresh Air

Stale indoor air doesn’t do us any favors when we’re sick. Fresh air supports oxygen flow, helps clear congestion, and simply feels restorative.

Try this: Open windows mid-day, even briefly, or bundle up and take a slow walk around the yard.

😴 Sleep (and Micro-Rest)

True rest isn’t always possible — but micro-rest is.

• Lying down for 10 minutes

• Closing your eyes while listening to calm music

• Sitting quietly instead of scrolling

These moments still allow the nervous system to downshift and support healing.

Simple, Time-Tested Natural Remedies

During this illness, I was blessed with some classic, comforting remedies — many of which require little preparation and can be made or shared by loved ones.

🍲 Bone Broth

Warm, mineral-rich bone broth is deeply nourishing, easy to digest, and supportive for immune recovery.

Tip: Sip it from a mug like tea if full meals feel like too much.

🍇 Elderberry

Often used during cold and flu seasons, elderberry can be supportive for immune health.

Use gently: Syrup or tincture, taken short-term when symptoms arise.

🍵 Herbal Teas

• Peppermint tea for congestion and nausea

• Ginger tea for digestion and inflammation

• Chamomile for calming and sleep support

Warm liquids alone can be soothing — the herbs are a bonus.

🍋 Lemon & 🍯 Honey

A classic for a reason.

• Lemon supports hydration and gentle detox pathways

• Raw honey soothes sore throats and provides quick energy

Mix with warm water or tea throughout the day.

🌿 Ginger Paste

Fresh ginger grated with a little honey can be taken by the spoonful or added to tea. It’s warming, grounding, and supportive when your body feels heavy or chilled.

When Rest Isn’t an Option: Gentle Strategies for Moms

Sometimes “just rest” isn’t realistic — but there are ways to create pockets of support.

🧺 Delegate (Even Imperfectly)

This was the hardest but most helpful.

• Older kids folding laundry (even if it’s not perfect)

• Simple meals instead of from-scratch cooking

• Asking a partner or family member to cover animal chores

Things don’t have to be done your way to be done well enough.

🍽 Simplify Meals

This is not the time for culinary excellence.

• Soup, toast, eggs, leftovers

• Breakfast for dinner

• One-pot meals

Feeding your family simply is still feeding them well.

📚 Adjust Expectations

School can look different for a week.

• Independent reading

• Educational videos

• Nature journals instead of formal lessons

Learning doesn’t stop because mom slows down.

🤍 Accept Help (Without Guilt)

If someone offers broth, tea, childcare, or errands — say yes.

Allowing others to care for you models community, humility, and balance for your children.

A Gentle Reminder

Healing isn’t about pushing through. It’s about listening, adjusting, and allowing your body the space it needs — even in small ways.

If you’re sick right now, I hope you feel encouraged to step into the sunlight, sip something warm, and loosen your grip on perfection for a few days. The house will settle. The laundry will wait. Your body deserves care, too.

Here’s to slow healing, simple comforts, and grace-filled days 🤍

— Emily