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With the cold weather comes cold and flu season. I am always trying to prevent my family from getting sick because we all know a cold can set us all back for at least a week. It’s especially important for us parents to take care of ourselves since the kids, house, and work need us.
- Wash Hands — this is one of the most important things you can do to prevent sickness. Germs are everywhere so always make sure to wash your hands before eating and as soon as you get home, we use Pure Haven’s hand soap. I also use Pure Haven’s hands on the go when soap and water are not available.
- Cough and Sneeze into your elbow — this is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs because your elbow is less likely to come into contact with other people as compared to your hands. Make sure to teach your children this as well.
- Eat well — this seems like a no brainier, but can be difficult during the holidays. I always try to pick healthy options at holiday parties and give in here and there to some treats. You can also make this smoothie when you might not be getting enough vegetables.
- Get plenty of fluid — Water, teas, and broths are the best type of fluids for your body. If water is too boring, make a water infusion in a pitcher a few times a week. It doesn’t have to be fancy, sliced up lemons, limes, or oranges are super easy and taste great. You can also try some of my favorite flavors found here.
- Get enough sleep — this one is the hardest for my husband and I. We do not get enough sleep and because of that I have been getting sick every year when I barely did before I had kids. Try to turn off all technology at least an hour before bed to help unwind and push your bedtime up and hour or so.
- Exercise regularly — right now this is really hard for me to find the time to do. I know, it’s an excuse, but with my husband’s busy work schedule and with me being a stay at home mom, I’m always with my children. I try to do light weight strength training while I watch my kids and stretch whenever possible. Believe it or not you are also exercising while doing housework and chasing your little ones around. Just because you’re not at the gym doesn’t mean you aren’t burning calories.
- Eat foods high in Vitamin C — kiwi, oranges, kale, broccoli, spinach, etc. You can also drink this immune boosting shot which has so many health benefits to prevent sickness.
- Use a humidifier while sleeping — depending on what type of heat you have in your house you might benefit from using this every night. We have forced hot air, which is one of the driest heating systems, so I always use a humidifier in every room. Keeping your sinuses moist is important to protect against infection. You can also use a Neti Pot to rinse out your nasal passages.
- Diffuse essential oils in your home — I diffuse Be Well essential oil in my home very often because the blend is known to keep your home healthy and alleviate symptoms of a cold.
Quick Tip: I keep Seventh Generation Disinfecting Wipes in my car so I can easily wipe off my steering wheel, door handles, etc. I even use it on my phone. I also bought the Seventh Generation disinfecting spray to use on the door handles in my house.
Resources:
Seventh Generation :: Protect Your Family and Yourself During Cold and Flu Season
Pure Haven :: Essential Oil Recipes
Hard to Breathe? 10 Ways to Keep our Sinuses Healthy
