Sleep routines
A cold in a wet week: what the NHS says to do, and a bedtime routine built around it
The NHS says rest, fluids, a hot lemon and honey drink and shower steam for a cold. A bedtime routine for a wet week that fits those steps and the NHS sleep tips.
Our research draws on the sources listed below. Lumuwala shares ownership with stores we may discuss, including Calm Eden. About our commercial relationships.
In this guide
A cold and a run of wet days tend to arrive together, though that is a coincidence of the season, not a claim from the NHS. We read the NHS common cold page and its sleep tips on 5 November 2026. Neither page connects getting wet to catching a cold; the cold page says colds are caused by viruses and spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours. The routine below is our arrangement of the two pages, and it is general information, not medical advice.
What the NHS cold page says to do
- Rest and fluids. Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluid, such as water, to avoid dehydration. Eat healthy food.
- Soothe a sore throat. Gargle salt water (not suitable for children) or have a hot lemon and honey drink: half a lemon squeezed into a mug of boiled water with 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey, drunk while still warm.
- Steam. Breathe in steam to ease a blocked nose by sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running.
- Do not. Do not smoke. Do not let children breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water, because of the risk of scalding. Do not give aspirin to children under 16, honey to children under 12 months, or hot drinks to small children.
- How long. You should begin to feel better in about 1 to 2 weeks, and you are infectious until your symptoms have gone.
An evening routine that fits both pages
The order is ours.
- Get the wet things out of the bedroom. Hang the coat in the hall and open the umbrella to dry somewhere else. Calm Eden’s guide to how to dry and care for an umbrella covers the safe way, and our wet coats and umbrellas note covers the bedroom side.
- Shower steam first. Sit in the bathroom with the hot shower running, as the cold page says, then dry off and dress warm.
- The hot drink. A hot lemon and honey drink comes from the cold page, and the sleep page also suggests a warm drink, milky or herbal, in place of caffeine. Keep alcohol and nicotine at least 1 to 2 hours from bed.
- Screens off. The sleep page says to avoid phones, tablets and computers for an hour before bed.
- A cool, dark, quiet room. Fully closed curtains, earplugs if noise is a problem, and a cooler room if you can. See our room temperature guide for the numbers.
- Tissues and a bin by the bed. The cold page says to use tissues and bin them quickly, and to wash your hands often with warm water and soap.
- Do not force it. If you are awake after around 20 minutes, get up, sit somewhere comfortable and do something relaxing before going back.
When to see a GP
The NHS page lists a high temperature for more than 3 days, symptoms that get worse, feeling short of breath or having chest pain, symptoms that have not improved after 10 days, a cough for more than 3 weeks, or a cold when you have a long-term condition or a weakened immune system. It also says GPs do not recommend antibiotics for colds, because colds are caused by viruses.
What the pages leave out
Neither page says how to sleep with a blocked nose, whether to raise your head, or how long to stay off work or school beyond saying to stay home if you have a high temperature or do not feel well enough for normal activities. For those, ask a pharmacist, who the NHS says can advise on cold medicines.
The umbrella on a wet walk
Lumuwala and Calm Eden share an owner. Calm Eden’s Haven Umbrella opens and closes with one press, which leaves a hand free for tissues and a hot drink on a wet walk with a cold. It folds to 40 cm, weighs about 390 g and has a lifetime warranty. Every order includes a Haven Cover and the Wellness Journal (digital); Buy 2 Get 1 Free adds the UV Charm and the Rain Poncho, and Buy 3 Get 2 Free also adds the Haven SPF 50+ Silk Square Scarf.
Sources: NHS, Common cold (last reviewed 22 March 2024); NHS Every Mind Matters, How to fall asleep faster and sleep better; both read 5 November 2026. General information, not medical advice.
Common questions
What does the NHS say to do for a cold?
Get plenty of rest, drink lots of fluid such as water, eat healthy food, gargle salt water for a sore throat (not for children), drink a hot lemon and honey drink and breathe in steam by sitting in the bathroom with a hot shower running. It says not to smoke.
How long does a cold last?
The NHS says you should begin to feel better in about 1 to 2 weeks, and you are infectious until all your symptoms have gone.
Is a hot lemon and honey drink safe for children?
The NHS says not to give hot drinks to small children and not to give honey to children under 12 months old. It says not to let children breathe in steam from a bowl of hot water because of the risk of scalding.
When should I see a GP?
The NHS lists a high temperature for more than 3 days, symptoms that get worse, feeling short of breath or having chest pain, symptoms that do not improve after 10 days, a cough for more than 3 weeks, and a cold when you have a long-term condition or a weakened immune system.
Does the NHS say a wet day gives you a cold?
Not on the page we read. It says colds are caused by viruses and spread by germs from coughs and sneezes, which can live on hands and surfaces for 24 hours.
Sources & editorial notes
Sources and linked product information checked November 5, 2026. This is a researched guide; we did not conduct product trials or assign performance scores.
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