Not Today, Sickness: How to Avoid Getting Sick This Winter

I absolutely hate being sick. There are only two things that actually benefit you when you’re sick: losing weight and being catered to. I live vicariously through the young during these times, because when I am sick, I still have to work or attend school—they do not. So, to avoid getting sick this winter, there are a couple of tips that help me out. I hope they will help you as well.

Keep your hands clean

You know those signs that hang in the bathroom in public restaurants or businesses that state “employees must wash their hands”? Apply that to your daily life. There are so many dormant germs lying around just waiting to activate in your immune system. So wash your hands and keep a travel-sized hand sanitizer handy. Remember, you don’t know who coughed in their hands and recently touched the doorknob of the door you just went through.

Eat (or drink) your fruits and vegetables

Fruits and vegetables have natural vitamin sources hidden within them. And we all know that vitamin C protects against immune system deficiencies. Some of the top fruits and vegetables that contain vitamin C are bell peppers, dark green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, kiwi, broccoli, berries, and citrus fruits like oranges and lemons. You can make a mean green juice to protect your insides from the outside.

Sleep

Sleep allows our bodies recharge and restore. I think of sleep like your cell phone battery. Once you get off of work, you immediately plug your phone up to the charger to recharge the battery. You want your phone to work properly and not shut off while you’re using it. Your body is the same. If you don’t get enough sleep, you can become really sluggish and moody. That is your body telling you it needs more sleep because you did allow it to recharge. Without enough sleep, it will weaken your immune system which will let the bacteria in. So do yourself a favor and get more rest!

Drink more water

Water provides moisture for your hair follicles, skin, and pores during the winter. It helps energizes muscles, creates a balance of fluids in your body, motivates the bowels to move, and helps control calories. It also flushes out those nasty toxins in your immune system and helps fight those bacteria that get trapped, so stay hydrated.

Use a humidifier

During winter, the air is cool and dry. Your sinuses also become cool and dry, so in order to combat that, I use a humidifier at night to help my nasal passages stay lubricated. Your body needs hydration, not only intrinsically but also extrinsically. A humidifier prevents nosebleeds, alleviates snoring, helps keep your skin not feeling dry, and also relieves sinusitis.

What are some things that you do in order to combat sickness in the winter?