5 Tips for Avoiding the Flu this Winter
Did you know that nearly 111 million workdays are lost due to the flu each flu season? And do you ever feel like you have to start from scratch with your workout routine and healthy eating plan after you’re hit with the flu or a nasty cold? As a member of the Together Counts™ program for active, healthy living, we definitely don’t want you to spend your vacation days on unplanned sick time or let the flu derail your healthy habits. Arm yourself now against cold and flu season with these five tips.
- Practice good hand washing skills by humming the “Happy Birthday” song from beginning to end twice.
- Wash hands thoroughly before and after visiting germ “hot spots” such as grocery stores, malls, airports and so on.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth too often as germs are easily transmitted this way.
- Wipe down and disinfect commonly touched surfaces like your keyboard and mouse, remote control and cell phone (your phone can carry more bacteria than a toilet seat!).
- Consider getting a flu shot. It may even be covered in part or in full by your insurance plan.
Finally, keep in mind that the same healthy habits that help with general health and wellness can also help you avoid the flu. Get plenty of sleep, eat your fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly and get a handle on stress to give your immune system a boost. Don’t let the flu blues get to you this winter. Instead, do all you can to prevent the bug so that you can plan, and enjoy, your time off from work.
Maggie Thorison is the Wellness Manager for TOPS Club, Inc., a nonprofit weight-loss support organization with thousands of chapters throughout the United States and Canada. Maggie has a passion for fitness and wellness and shares healthy tips for the workplace and everyplace in her bi-weekly Wellness Wednesday blog.
For more healthy ideas take a look at these other posts from Together Counts!