It’s that special time of the year! The pollen count is high, so that means hot showers and boxes of tissues galore. Of course, we are suffering basically at any time of the year from whatever cause, but there’s just something about stuffy air and tree pollen that just really gets to us as we transition from spring to summer.

Here are a couple things you can do to cope with whatever you’re going through in regards to seasonal allergies:

• Have a sore throat? Try eating marshmallows! Not only are they delicious, but they coat your throat in this way that soothes it. I mean, you could also gargle salt water if you’re not into this yummy marshmallow idea.
• Feel stuffy? Go take a nice, hot shower. Put on your favorite music and sing along, it’s relaxing and will uplift your mood from feeling down about being sick. Another thing you could do is go sit outside for a bit. Sounds crazy, but sometimes fresh air can open up your sinuses. This part depends on the atmosphere whether it’s warm and there’s a slight breeze, go for it.
• Ears aren’t popping? Chew some gum or mimic that motion. Drinking liquids also helps.
• Itchy eyes? I find putting cold water and kind of rubbing that onto my eyes to help. Sounds odd, but it works.

If you can help it, avoid staying inside and doing nothing. If you are absolutely miserable and incapable of finding the motivation to stop being a couch potato, eat a bowl of soup and watch your favorite movie (I recommend Ferris Buehler's Day Off). Going outside will, if doing an activity you enjoy, make you feel better and potentially cause you to forget how miserable you are, due to the lack of focus on that misery.

Hopefully, these tips will help you as allergy season continues in making you miserable. They’re not going to make everything go away in that instant, but will make you feel better for a little while.