Top 5 Ways to Stay Healthy this Season

The seasons are changing and it’s that time of year to keep your health top of mind as we enter cold and flu season. There are a few simple things you can do to protect yourself from getting sick this fall and winter. 

Top 5 Ways to Stay Healthy this Season

1. No surprises here- wash your hands! This is probably the easiest and most important step in the fight against germs! It is amazing how many surfaces our hands come into contact with throughout the day, and how many times we touch our faces, mouths, and eyes. Getting in a good routine with hand washing is crucial.

2. Get plenty of sleep! Being well rested is an important (and pleasant) way to fight disease. Amazing things happen when we sleep. We heal and repair our bodies, our stress relief hormones get turned off and our feel good hormones get turned on, our circulation improves, our brains work out the problems from the day and process all of our input and we boost our immune system’s performance. All just by shutting those very tired eyes!

3. Exercise! As long as you are not over-doing it, exercise can help keep you healthy throughout the year. It is hard to maintain a routine during the holiday season, but this is the most important time to make exercise a priority. To keep you motivated, try taking a new class (i.e. yoga or boxing). Anything that increases your enjoyment and accountability for getting to the gym is a bonus.

4. Protect your gut! Did you know that approx. 70% of your immune system is in your gut? Did you also know that our modern diet and habits sabotage gut health? To keep those important stomach and colon bacteria happy, here are some things you can do:

• Eat a more alkaline diet (versus acidic)- Raw vegetables, leafy green vegetables, citrus fruits, root vegetables and healthy fats.
• Take a good quality probiotic- a probiotic helps you put the right kinds of ‘good’ bacteria in your body.
• Avoid soda, processed foods, transfats, and added sugar or sweeteners. These foods kill off the good bacteria that we need to help us fight off illness.

5. Limit stress! I know this is easier said than done, but it is really quite important in fighting infection and disease. Slow down a little, get plenty of sleep, don’t sweat the small stuff, meditate and get a few good workouts in every week. I know it is hard to find time for yourself this time of year, but you’ll be surprised at how much more productive your time is when you are healthy and stress-free.

Those are Top 5 Ways to Stay Healthy this Season, but there is a still a chance you will catch something. If you do get sick, stay home. Stay in bed. Rest and recover and keep your germs away from your friends and family. When we go to work sick, we are less productive and we risk getting the whole office sick. Your emails will be waiting for you when you return- I promise!

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The Athletico blog is an educational resource written by Athletico employees. Athletico bloggers are licensed professionals who abide by the code of ethics outlined by their respective professional associations. The content published in blog posts represents the opinion of the individual author based on their expertise and experience. The content provided in this blog is for informational purposes only, does not constitute medical advice and should not be relied on for making personal health decisions.