Isn't it funny that you "catch" a cold? That's quite an active thing to do, after all. Here is a simple strategy to help you "drop it" before it catches on. All you need is an electric hair dryer.

Take your electric hair dryer, turn it on and use the hot air to warm that area of your shoulders and upper back. The easiest way to do that is to stick it under your shirt or jersey, at the back, pointing upwards. Be careful not to burn yourself with the hot air, and don't let the hairdryer's air inlet be obstructed by your shirt. But this is not rocket science - you'll get the hang in half a minute.

It is important to keep blowing the hot air until you feel your back and shoulders relax with the warmth, which takes 1-3 minutes.

That's all.

Now comes the explanation why that works:

The first signs of a typical cold (what the Chinese call "wind-cold") are: Aversion to drafts, feeling chilly, sneezing or a runny nose and tightness around the upper back and shoulders.
When you notice these, it is not too late to get it out of the system before it gets lodged there.

Located in the nape of the neck and the upper back are the "Gate of Wind" and "Grasping the Wind" acupoints. What happens when this area gets cold is that the shoulder and back muscles tighten and breathing gets shallow. Warming the area allows the muscles to relax again, circulation of breath and Qi is re-established, and everything is of the very nice. "Sweet as", like we say here in New Zealand.