Thankfully, I don't get sick very often at all. Oh, but when I do happen to catch a cold, I would have to say that probably the worst part about it is the fact that when my nose is all stuffed up, it can be hard as hell to get a good night's rest because breathing through my mouth is annoying. Like, super annoying. So, since it is officially cold and flu season, I think we all know that this is the time when we're more susceptible to catching the virus known as the common cold than ever. As far as preventative measures go, it's important that you strengthen your immune system, that you wash your hands every time you come into your house and prepare to have a meal and that you get plenty of rest (no less than six hours of sleep a night, if you can).
Yet what if you already have a sore throat, stuffy nose, fever, headache and/or some fatigue going on? While (amazingly) there is still not an official cure for the common cold, one of the best things that you can do to reduce the amount of time that you have to endure the virus (because most colds stick around for between 7-10 days) is to get several consecutive nights of sound sleep. And how can you pull that off when you have some (or all) of the symptoms that I just mentioned? Hopefully these 10 hacks can give you some of the relief that you seek.
1. Eat Something Spicy and Drink Lots of Fluids Throughout the Day
Now here's something that just might surprise you. If spicy foods are so your thing, use your cold as an opportunity to treat yourself. The reason why I say that is because a lot of spicy stuff contains some amount of chili peppers and a bioactive compound in those is capsaicin. Capsaicin is great because it helps to break up any congestion you may have. Not only that but spices like turmeric contain anti-inflammatory properties too.
Just make sure that if draining mucus is bringing gastrointestinal issues along with eating spicy things that you don't follow through with this first tip. The reason why is because, if your tummy is upset, spicy foods can make matters somewhat worse.
Speaking of things that you should consume, it's definitely important that you drink as much water as possible. Water helps to flush out your system, regulate your body temperature and keep you well hydrated. On the topic of drinks, you should keep caffeine at bay. Since it has a mild diuretic effect on your system, drinks like coffee should wait until you're feeling much better.
2. DIY a Saline Rinse
At the end of the day, saline is simply a mixture of salt and water. The reason why it can be super beneficial when you have a cold is because this combo has the ability to literally thin out the mucus that is clogging up your nasal passages. Also, if there is anything in your nose that is irritating it (to the point where you are constantly sneezing or feeling like you need to do so), saline can help to rinse that out as well (because there is nothing worse than sneezing or coughing throughout the night, chile). While there are saline nose sprays that you can easily find at your local drug or grocery store, you can also make your own solution by combining distilled water and non-iodized salt together. For step-by-step instructions, Medical News Today has your back. You can check it out here.
3. Also Make Your Own Eucalyptus Oil Rub
Some of us have semi-fond memories of our parents (or grandparents) putting Vicks VapoRub onto our chest when we were congested. While I have nothing against Vicks personally, I prefer going the all-natural essential oils route by combining some eucalyptus oil with a carrier oil like sweet almond or coconut. Eucalyptus is dope because it's loaded with antioxidants. Plus, the properties within the eucalyptol that's in it can decrease bodily inflammation, break up mucus and even slow down coughing. So, if you're looking for some Vicks-like relief, give your own eucalyptus rub a shot. The results that it provides just might surprise you.
4. Gargle with Some Baking Soda
Sometimes, when I feel the beginning of a sore throat coming on, I will pour a little bit of hydrogen peroxide down my ears. While the fizzing is triggering as all get out, it does seem to nip the throat discomfort within a day or so. There have been times when I've gargled with peroxide too, although I think that gargling with baking soda is just as, if not more, effective. The belief is that sodium bicarbonate is able to provide an alkaline effect to your system which causes the virus to decrease in its potency. So, before turning in, take a stab at making a mixture that consists of one cup of water, ½ teaspoon of baking soda and (if you wish) a couple of sprinkles of sea salt (which detoxifies). If you gargle this for five minutes at night and again in the morning, at the very least, your throat will feel better. As a bonus, your cold symptoms may start to go away sooner too.
5. Take a Shower Before Turning In
When it comes to the viruses that cause a cold, do you know what they enjoy? They like to play around in environments that consist of low humidity. One way to combat that is to take a nice hot shower. While typically, it's best to shower in warm water (because it doesn't dry out your skin), the more humidity that you can drum up when you're congested, the better. Just make sure that you "seal your skin" as soon as you get out by applying your favorite oil (maybe sweet almond, grapeseed or jojoba) before your towel off; that way, the properties from the oil will "lock the moisture" into your skin so that it stays nice and smooth.
6. Drop the Temp in Your Bedroom
Germs thrive in heat. That's why, if you have a cold, it's best to keep your bedroom at around 65-69 degrees, if you can handle it. Besides, is there anything better than curling up underneath some of your favorite blankets? Absolutely not.
7. Use a Humidifier That Comes with a Diffuser
Remember how I said earlier that viruses loathe low humidity? This is why it's such a good idea to invest in a humidifier (because it creates a mist that increases humidity levels in the room that it's in). Oh, and if you really want to piss those viruses off, get the kind that comes with a diffuser too so that you can reap the benefits of certain essential oils that also work overtime to keep viruses at bay. Some of those include peppermint (it's a decongestant and fever reducer); oregano (it kills germs); cinnamon (it's loaded with antioxidants that help to strengthen your respiratory system); lavender (it lowers your stress levels); sandalwood (it's a natural sedative that helps you to sleep more soundly); tea tree oil (it contains potent antiviral, antimicrobial and antifungal properties) and frankincense (it calms coughing and even aids in healing bronchitis).
8. Slightly Prop Up Your Pillow
When it comes to this particular point, think about it — when you have a cold, doesn't it seem like your nose is so much more stuffed up when you're lying down? While it's actually the inflammation of the lining of your nose that is causing the biggest part of the congestion problem, if you prop your head up with an extra pillow and then lie on your side, this also can help to bring you drainage and some much-needed relief.
9. Treat Yourself to a Hot Toddy
While it tends to come with some variations as far as ingredients are concerned, the simplest way to explain a hot toddy is it's a drink that consists of whiskey, honey, herbs, spices and sometimes some lemon. Although the heat of it alone can do wonders when it comes to soothing your throat, believe it or not, the properties in whiskey are able to help to dilate your blood vessels and reduce any congestion you might be experiencing.
Plus, when you add to it things like cloves (which contain anti-inflammatory compounds), ginger (which has medicinal properties to reduce inflammation and help to heal a sore throat) and lemon (which is loaded with antioxidants), it's pretty easy to see how it could be a signature drink, at least one of the nights, while you're trying to get over a cold.
(Some great hot toddyrecipes to try and found here, here and here.)
10. Or Drink Some Chamomile Tea and Honey
If you'd prefer to go the non-alcoholic route, how about a cup of chamomile tea? As far as fighting colds go, it contains properties that help to reduce inflammation, decrease anxiety (so that you can fall and stay asleep faster) and fight cold-related symptoms. If you add some honey to it, the texture of it will help to coat your throat as its properties will aid in suppressing your cough and speeding up the overall healing process. You'll feel less "cold-like" within an hour or so, so that you can get the kind of sleep that you need to get over your cold so much faster. Sweet dreams, sis.
For more inspiration, self-care, and health tips, check out xoNecole's Wellness section here.
Featured image by Getty Images
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It's kinda wild that, in 2025, my byline will have appeared on this platform for (what?!) seven years. And yeah, when I'm not waxing poetic on here about sex, relationships and then...more sex and relationships, I am working as a certified marriage life coach, helping to birth babies (as a doula) or penning for other places (oftentimes under pen names).
As some of you know, something that I've been "threatening" to do for a few years now is write another book. Welp, October 2024 was the month that I "gave birth" to my third one: 'Inside of Me 2.0: My Story. With a 20-Year Lens'. It's fitting considering I hit a milestone during the same year.
Beyond that, Pumas and lip gloss are still my faves along with sweatshirts and tees that have a pro-Black message on them. I've also started really getting into big ass unique handbags and I'm always gonna have a signature scent that ain't nobody's business but my own.
As far as where to find me, I continue to be MIA on the social media front and I honestly don't know if that will ever change. Still, if you need to hit me up about something *that has nothing to do with pitching on the site (I'm gonna start ignoring those emails because...boundaries)*, hit me up at missnosipho@gmail.com. I'll do what I can. ;)
Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney & Jill Marie Jones On 'Games Women Play' & Dating Over 40
What do you get when you mix unfiltered truths, high-stakes romance, and a few well-timed one-liners? You get Games Women Play—the sizzling new stage play by Je’Caryous Johnson that’s part relationship rollercoaster, part grown-woman group chat.
With a powerhouse cast that includes Claudia Jordan, Demetria McKinney, Jill Marie Jones, Carl Payne, Chico Bean, and Brian J. White, the play dives headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and heart-wrenching games people play for love, power, and peace of mind. And the women leading this story? They’re bringing their whole selves to the stage—and leaving nothing behind.
From Script to Spotlight
The road to Games Women Play started over 20 years ago—literally.
“This script was written 20 years ago,” Jill Marie Jones said with a smile. “It was originally called Men, Money & Gold Diggers, and I was in the film version. So when Je’Caryous called me to bring it to the stage, I was like, ‘Let’s go.’” Now reimagined for 2025, the play is updated with sharp dialogue and modern relationship dynamics that feel all too real.
Demetria McKinney, no stranger to Je’Caryous Johnson’s productions, jumped at the opportunity to join the cast once again. “This is my third time working with him,” she shared. “It was an opportunity to stretch. I’d never been directed by Carl Payne before, and the chance to work with talent I admire—Jill, Claudia, Chico—it was a no-brainer.”
Claudia Jordan joked that she originally saw the role as just another check. “I didn’t take it that seriously at first,” she admitted. “But this is my first full-on tour—and now I’ve got a whole new respect for how hard people work in theater. This ain’t easy.”
Modern Love, Stage Left
The play doesn’t hold back when it comes to the messier parts of love. One jaw-dropping moment comes when a live podcast proposal flips into a prenup bombshell—leaving the audience (and the characters) gasping.
Demetria broke it down with honesty. “People don’t ask the real questions when they date. Like, ‘Do you want kids? How do you feel about money?’ These convos aren’t happening, and then everyone’s confused. That moment in the play—it’s real. That happens all the time.”
Jill chimed in, noting how the play speaks to emotional disconnect. “We’re giving each other different tokens of love. Men might offer security and money. Women, we’re giving our hearts. But there’s a disconnect—and that’s where things fall apart.”
And then Claudia, of course, took it all the way there. “These men don’t even want to sign our prenups now!” she laughed. “They want to live the soft life, too. Wearing units, gloss, getting their brows done. We can’t have nothing! Y’all want to be like us? Then get a damn period and go through menopause.”
Dating Over 40: “You Better Come Correct”
When the conversation turned to real-life relationships, all three women lit up. Their experiences dating in their 40s and 50s have given them both clarity—and zero tolerance for games.
“I feel sexier than I’ve ever felt,” said Jill, who proudly turned 50 in January. “I say what I want. I mean what I say. I’m inside my woman, and I’m not apologizing for it.”
Demetria added that dating now comes with deeper self-awareness. “Anybody in my life is there because I want them there. I’ve worked hard to need nobody. But I’m open to love—as long as you keep doing what got me there in the first place.”
For Claudia, the bar is high—and the peace is priceless. “I’ve worked hard for my peace,” she said. “I’m not dating for food. I’m dating because I want to spend time with you. And honestly, if being with you isn’t better than being alone with my candles and fountains and cats? Then no thanks.”
Channeling Strength & Icon Status
Each actress brings something different to the play—but all of them deliver.
“I actually wish I could be messier on stage,” Claudia joked. “But I think about my grandmother—she was born in 1929, couldn’t even vote or buy a house without a man, and didn’t give a damn. She was fearless. That’s where my strength comes from.”
For Jill, the comparisons to her iconic Girlfriends character Toni Childs aren’t far off—but this role gave her a chance to dig deeper. “If you really understood Toni, you’d see how layered she was. And Paisley is the same—misunderstood, but strong. There’s more to her than people see at first glance.”
Demetria, who juggles singing and acting seamlessly, shared that live theater pushes her in a new way. “Every moment on stage counts. You can’t redo anything. It’s a different kind of love and discipline. You have to give the performance away—live, in the moment—and trust that it lands.”
Laughter, Lessons & Black Girl Gems
The show has plenty of laugh-out-loud moments—and the cast isn’t shy about who steals scenes.
“Chico Bean gets a lot of gasps and laughs,” Claudia said. “And Naomi Booker? Every scene she’s in—she’s hilarious.”
But the play isn’t just about humor. It leaves space for reflection—especially for Black women.
“I hope we get back to the foundation of love and communication,” said Demetria. “A lot of us are in protector mode. But that’s turned into survival mode. We’ve lost softness. We’ve lost connection.”
Claudia agreed. “We’re doing it all—but it’s not because we want to be strong all the time. It’s because we have to be. And I just want women to know: You can have peace, you can be soft. But stop bringing your old pain into new love. Don’t let past heartbreak build walls so high that the right person can’t climb over.”
Final Act: Pack the House
If there’s one thing this cast agrees on, it’s that this play isn’t just entertainment—it’s necessary.
“Atlanta is the Black entertainment hub,” Claudia said. “We need y’all to show up for this play. Support the arts. Support each other. Because when we pack the house, we make space for more stories like this.”
Games Women Play is more than a play—it’s a mirror. You’ll see yourself, your friends, your exes, and maybe even your next chapter. So get ready to laugh, reflect, and maybe even heal—because the games are on.
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Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Relationship Timeline
Sterling K. Brown and Ryan Michelle Bathe are one of our favorite Hollywood couples. We can't get over their adorable moments together on the red carpet and on social media. While they're both from St. Louis, they didn't meet until college, which they both attended Stanford. And the rest is as they say, history. Read below as we dive into their decades-long relationship.
Mid to Late1990s: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Meet
Sterling and Ryan met as freshmen at Stanford University. "We were in the same dorm freshman year...that's kind of how we met," Ryan said in an interview with ET. "I was mesmerized," she said after watching him audition for the school play, Joe Turner's Come and Gone. Sterling revealed that The First Wives Club star was dating someone else, so they started off as friends.
"She got cast in the play as well, and we would ride bikes to rehearsal, and we would just talk. We found out that we were both from St. Louis. We didn't know that we were both from St. Louis, like, our parents went to rival high schools. We were born in the same hospital. Like, we were friends," he said.
The first few years of their relationship involved many breakups and makeups. However, they ended up graduating and attended NYU's Tisch Grad Acting Program together.
Early 2000s: Sterling K. Brown Tells Ryan Michelle Bathe She's 'The Love Of My Life'
The Paradise star opened up about telling Ryan that she was the one. "We broke up for three and a half years before we came back into each other's lives," he said. "She was on the treadmill working out, and I had this epiphany, 'I have to go tell this woman she's the love of my life.'"
"I go to her apartment, I tell her, and she's like, 'Well, I'm working out right now,' and I was like, 'No, I can see that—I'll just talk to you while you're on the treadmill,' and she's like, 'Well, I feel like going outside. So I'm gonna go on a run,'" he continued. "So I'm like dressed [in a suit], and she starts running through Koreatown, and I start running along with her. Brother had to work, but it was well worthwhile."
2006: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Tie The Knot
The St. Louis natives eloped in 2006 and a year later held a larger ceremony. According to the bride, the best part of their wedding was the food. "The best thing about it was the food," she told ET.
"Can I just say, sometimes you go to weddings, and you get the winner-winner chicken dinner and you're like, 'I pay. OK, it's fine.' But I wanted people to remember their experience -- their culinary experience. So I was happy about that. The food was good."
2011: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Welcome Their First Child
In 2011, Sterling and The Endgame actress welcomed their first son, Andrew. In a 2017 tweet, Sterling revealed they had a home birth. "An unexpected home delivery is something my wife and I went through ourselves with our first born, so this was round 2 for me!" he wrote while referring to a scene involving his character Randall, in This Is Us.
2012: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Appear On-screen Together
A year later, the couple acted together on the Lifetime series Army Wives.
2015: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Welcome Their Second Child
In 2015, Sterling and Ryan welcomed another son, Amaré. Sterling shared an Instagram post about their latest addition to the family. "1st post. 2nd child. All good! #imoninstagram," the Atlas star wrote.
2016: Ryan Michelle Bathe Joins Sterling K. Brown On 'This Is Us'
Ryan guest appears on her hubby's show, This Is Us.
Sterling K. Brown Reveals Ryan Michelle Bathe's Mother Didn't Like Him At First
During their sit-down interview for the Black Love series, Sterling revealed that Ryan's mother wasn't a fan of him, which caused friction in their relationship.
2024: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Explain How Jennifer Lopez Once Broke Them Up
While visiting The Jennifer Hudson Show, Sterling and Ryan share their hilarious Jennifer Lopez break-up story. "We had just gone out, we were living in New York City, we were in grad school, and we had gone to see a Broadway play and we came back to my place and my roommate was playing the ["Love Don't Cost A Thing"] video on MTV," Sterling said.
"Now I'm a fan of Jennifer Lopez's dancing, and I was watching the video and I knew my young...21, 22-year-old girlfriend was looking at me watch the video. And I know I'm not supposed to have a reaction. In trying NOT to have a reaction, what had happened was, my eyes began to water."
Ryan jumped in, "Otherwise known as, TEARS! I turn around and my boyfriend is weeping, tears like big fat [tears]. And I'm looking and she's just a shakin' and a shimming, and he's just crying. I said 'Oh no, I got to go.' "
2024: Sterling K. Brown & Ryan Michelle Bathe Launch Their Podcast, We Don't Always Agree
The couple launched their podcast, We Don't Always Agree, where they disclose more intimate details about their love story.
Feature image by Chelsea Lauren/Shutterstock