1. Rule out COVID-19.
Regardless of what's got you down, no illness is fun or enjoyable to live with. But as so many of the people we love and encounter can be more susceptible to severe COVID-19 infection, ruling out COVID can help you to know whether self-isolation, a trip to the doctor or just a day or two of laying low is in order.

Our BinaxNOW Self Test is the perfect fall essential to have stashed in your medicine cabinet as the leaves change so you can have answers in 15 minutes flat. Find a test here.

2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
Chances are that at some point, a healthcare professional has advised you to "drink plenty of fluids" when sick. Fluids are vital as the body needs to be hydrated to absorb the nutrients needed to recover. Staying hydrated when sick can also help with regulating body temperature, decreasing irritation in the nasal passage when sneezing, coughing and breathing, and even "helping the skin and mucous cell membrane act as a barrier to prevent bacteria from entering the body."

Pedialyte brings the right balance of glucose and sodium to help replenish fluids and increase electrolyte levels to help keep you hydrated and on the up and up.

3. Rest. Seriously, rest.
Whether or not Step 1 left you isolated for five days or not, your body needs rest to fight off sickness. Aside from giving your body the break it needs to fight against illnesses like COVID-19, the flu or even just a common cold, hunkering down for a bit decreases the likelihood that you’ll spread it to someone else.

4. Repeat as needed.
Still not on the mend? Because the outcome of your BinaxNOW Self Test may depend on the amount of time since exposure or how infectious you are at the time of the test, if COVID-19-like symptoms (i.e. cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell) persist, it never hurts to test again.

And because it's important to stay hydrated as you recover, keep Pedialyte with you whether it’s from bed or getting back out and on the go.

We know. We're all ready to get out and enjoy this (always seemingly too short) last hurrah before winter. But before you go nuts in the Halloween section of the home goods store and bust out your cutest burgundy, forest green and burnt orange outfits, make sure you have your true fall essentials in place to combat the ugliness that is virus season.