As cold and flu season approaches, you want to make sure that you are doing what is needed in order to stay healthy. Taking care of your body by getting enough sleep, eating nutritious food, and taking vitamins can help to boost your immune system during cold and flu season; however, that is only one part of the equation. You will still need to work, go to school, and go out in public to shop. All of these activities can expose you to viruses and bacteria, potentially making you sick. Here are three tips to help keep you healthy during cold and flu season.
Keep antibacterial hand sanitizer accessible
One of the best ways to combat viral and bacterial infections is to make sure your hands are clean. If you are unable to use soap and water, the next best thing you can do is use antibacterial hand sanitizer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends using hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content. Keep hand sanitizer in all of the places where you spend a lot of time, including in your car. You can easily slip hand sanitizer into your glove box, a drawer, or your bag so that you are never without it. An 8-ounce bottle of hand sanitizer gel can easily fit anywhere. Look into bulk options like a 72 pack of 8 oz hand sanitizer bottles so you can keep a bottle in each location you might need it.
Clean high-touch surfaces frequently
High-touch surfaces can be breeding grounds for germs. Make sure that you regularly clean high-touch surfaces, especially if they are in shared spaces. Doorknobs, countertops, faucet taps, keyboards, and phone receivers should be disinfected frequently. Make sure to follow the directions on the back of your disinfectant cleaner in order to maximize the cleanliness of your spaces. Some cleaners require that you let the product sit on the surface for a length of time before wiping it away.
Avoid sharing food with people outside your household
Potluck style lunches and doughnuts in the office should be off-limits if you are concerned about contracting a virus. While sharing baked goods can lift spirits, it can also expose you to a number of germs from your coworkers' hands and mouths. If you are sharing food from a restaurant, ask for portions to be individually boxed to help reduce the need to share food from the same boxes and plates. Similarly, you should use your own plates and utensils to help cut down on your risk of picking up a bug.
You likely found this blog because you are dedicated to improving your health. You may simply not know what a healthy lifestyle consists of or you may understand what good health habits are, but lack the motivation to put this knowledge into action.
No matter what gets in the way of achieving good health, we plan to help you every step of the way. Whether you need to learn what a healthy meal consists of, how often you should exercise to maintain good cardiovascular health, or how to improve your motivation to work out, we hope you can find the answers to your questions on this blog or the healthcare resources we share here. While we are not health experts, we strive to lead healthy lifestyles, just like you.