What a Pain!

Okay, middle schoolers. Guess which kind of pain 9-13 year olds are most likely to suffer in a month? "Blisters?" "Sore knuckles?" "Fear of flying saucers landing on my school?” None of the above. It's headaches.  

Mizz C. doesn’t want you to miss school or "you time" because of headaches. Some mini habits can help you prevent many of them. Ready?

• Drink several glasses of plain old water every day, especially before, during, and after sports. Dehydration, aka cells screaming: "water, we need water," can cause headaches.
• Get the right amount of regular sleep—9 to 11 hours a night for middle schoolers. Overtiredness causes many headaches.
• Eat healthy meals and snacks around the same times every day. Skipped meals can trigger headaches.
• Give your eyeballs a rest from too much screen time.
• Avoid caffeinated drinks. They can cause rebound headaches when you suddenly stop them. 
• If you get that tight, nervous feeling called stress, go for a walk or a run. Or stop to breathe slowly and deeply until you feel calmer. Or close your eyes and let your stressful thoughts float right out of your head. 

“Okay, okay, Mizz C. we get it. But I'm getting a headache right NOW! Make it go away. I have to finish my homework.”

Mizz C's Headache Begone Plan:

• Stick a wet washcloth in the freezer to make a Headache Washcloth Popsicle.
• Drink a big, cold glass of water.
• Eat a small snack.
• Set a timer for about twenty minutes. You remember timers from Mizz C’s posting on how to love, love, love timers as much as she does.
• Go get your Headache Washcloth Popsicle. Lie down. Put the cool cloth on your forehead. 
• Close your eyes and take a short nap until the timer goes off.
• If you still have the headache when you wake up, ask a parent for an ibuprofen if that’s what your family uses for headaches.*

Feel better now? Go play with your dog or your little sister then go back to your homework, headache-free.

* Mizz C. isn't a doctor even though she sometimes acts like one. She does know that headaches can be a sign of illness. So watch for other symptoms such as fever, aches and pains, or stomach ache. There might be a bug going around.