Flowers are blooming. The sun is shining. Spring is upon us!

There’s a lot that I love about spring, but unfortunately, the feelings between us two aren’t quite mutual. I’m not sure what I did to spring, but it has a love of throwing all of its dreadful allergies onto me. From sneezing and sniffling to coughing and aching, spring definitely gives my body a run for its money. After years of struggling with seasonal allergies, I’ve finally found a routine that helps me (somewhat) thrive throughout the season. Keep reading to hear all of my allergy advice.  

Create Your Allergy-Fighting Routine

As much as I try to avoid loading up on medicines, springtime is an exception. I’ve tried basically every over the counter treatment, and have finally found the routine for me. My dynamic duo consists of Xyzal and Flonase. Xyzal is an antihistamine pill that fights runny noses, itchy eyes, and sneezing. I find that it helps with brain fog as well. Flonase is a nasal spray that blocks many of the same symptoms, but without any drowsiness. I take Xyzal right before bed, and spray Flonase when I wake up in order to be well-shielded for my day.  

Keep Those Hands Clean

This tip is exactly what you’d expect: wash, wash, and wash some more! Pollen and dust associated with spring are extremely good at making their way indoors and onto all of your belongings. While it would be best to wash your phone, backpack, and clothes every day, sometimes that’s just not realistic. The next best thing is to keep your hands clean to avoid spreading these germs around your body. Ever rubbed your eyes after being outside and experienced the burn? Yeah, we’re avoiding that this season.  

Stay Hydrated

This is probably the most widely-used piece of advice for anytime you’re dragging, but that’s because it works! I can’t even count how many times having a cold glass of water has brought me “back to life” on a bad allergy day. The hydration is essential for your body, and can often help with any brain fog, headache, or muscle pain you may be experiencing. Staying on top of your water intake is one of the best ways to flush toxins out of your system, and to keep you feeling lively. Grab your favorite water bottle and glue that baby to your side, because it’s going to be your bestie all season long.

Protect Your Eyes

Itchy eyes are one of my most dreaded allergy symptoms, and I think I’ve tried everything in the book to fix it. Trust me, there’s nothing fun about not being able to see due to the fire starting in your eyeballs. My best advice to avoid itchy/watery eyes is to always have sunglasses nearby. Throwing these on while walking around outdoors can be a lifesaver. Not only do they block potential pollen from hitting your eyes, but they also shield them from the wind which can be extra irritating during this time. Shades on, stinging off!

Catch Some ZZZ’s

Last but not least, kick your allergies to the curb with a good night’s rest! Sleep is one of the best forms of medicine for our bodies. Getting eight hours of quality rest will help you to feel refreshed and energized in the morning (two things that typically go down the drain for me during spring). Pro-tip: stay on top of rotating and washing your pillows to make this healing time even more beneficial. No allergies allowed in our dreams!

Have we talked enough about allergies yet? I think so too. Hopefully these tips will help y’all enjoy the beauty of spring this year, rather than sulking in the sneezes. Have any allergy-busting tips of your own? Let us know below!  

Be well, Auburn.

Photography: Zoe L.