Keep Clean, Rest, Stay Hydrated and Relax to Prevent Colds and the Flu

Nobody enjoys having a cold or being buried under the covers with the flu. Every year this is the reality we face as the weather gets colder and the germs become airborne. There are some very simple lifestyle changes you can put in your daily routine that can really help you to stay healthy this winter. I am not asking you to tuck the tissues away forever, but maybe if you incorporate some of these you can spend the money you would have spent on remedies on a winter getaway.

Keep your hands off of your face!

This is the #1 most important thing you can do to prevent from getting ill. Your hands and nails are like a little petri dish, as my sister would tell you. You may wash and sanitize as much as you want, but who is to say that the person touching the phone before you did. Cold and flu germs get in your body via your eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. That is four places on your head, stop touching it! Now you may ask, what you are supposed to do when you need to cough or sneeze. If you have elementary aged children, you may know the answer. When the sneeze or cough is coming, you put your face in your elbow. This way you are keeping the germs from becoming airborne and are also keeping your hands virus free.

Get your relax on!

Staying healthy requires that you are well rested and relaxed. You need your sleep to stay ahead of the game. A sleep deprived immune system is completely unable to fight of germs and viruses. If you are not able to get your full eight hours every night you need to make time to have a nap or to at least some calming relaxation. This may seem hard with the onset of the holidays, but it is an imperative step in staying flu free.

Hydration, hydration, hydration!

I can not stress this enough! You must keep yourself hydrated to keep yourself healthy. Water is key. It keeps you hydrated as well as flushes toxins from your body. One simple way to know if you are hydrating enough is to take a look at your urine. If your urine is almost clear you are consuming enough fluids, if it is a dark yellow, it is then time to step it up a notch. Remember during the holidays that alcohol dehydrates you. One glass of water for every alcoholic beverage should keep you on the hydrated track.

Get Up and Get Out!

Any kind of exercise keeps your immune system strong and healthy. Get up and outside for a walk or some activity at least once a day. In the winter months people tend to stay in more. This is a recipe for some germ and virus stew. If you get outside and get some fresh air, this helps to keep you from drying out your mucus membranes and if you are exercising while outside, you are building your immune system. It's that whole two birds with one stone theory.

Sanitary Sanity!

Lastly you must keep it clean. I am not talking about hospital operating room clean. I simply mean that you need to keep yourself, home, and daily work area clean. Wipe down any area that is touched by more than you on a daily basis. If your desk is a place where other office members have access, wipe it down at night before you go home or upon arrival in the morning. Do the same thing at home. Wipe down the community areas everyday to help prevent the onset of flu and cold in your family. It is the easiest way to keep yourself and family healthy and virus free.

You can now implement these things in to your daily routine and be happy knowing your doing something to protect yourself and others around you from those horrible visitors this winter, cold and flu. Stay active and stay healthy, it is the best thing you can do for you!