Fall is upon us, and with it, an influx of allergy symptoms, colds, and the dreaded flu. Whether there’s already something making the rounds at the office or you’re simply struggling with how you’re going to handle the coming illness season, you want to make sure you’re doing your best to stay healthy. These fall tips might not be able to banish every cold and flu that comes your way, but they can help your family stay healthy this fall.
Tip #1: Keep Eating Healthy
During the fall, it seems as though there’s junk food on every table. Halloween brings an influx of candy into every home with children, while the arrival of fall leaves many families craving baked goods, sugar-filled coffee drinks and hot chocolate, and other sugar-filled treats. While you don’t have to give up your favorite treats entirely, it’s important that you continue eating healthy throughout the fall as much as possible. Take advantage of the harvest season to enjoy squash, potatoes, apples, and other great fall foods–and keep those treats in moderation as much as possible. Healthy eating habits form the foundation for a healthy immune system that will be more likely to fight off those nasty germs.
Tip #2: Stay Active
As the weather cools, you may be more likely to skip that morning run or avoid your evening walk with your family–especially if it’s dark outside during the time when you’d normally go. You don’t have to head outside in the dark, but you should take steps to get in the exercise you need in spite of the changing season. Exercise isn’t just for creating that great summer-ready body. It’s also for building an overall healthier body.
Tip #3: Hydrate
You know that you’re supposed to drink plenty of water throughout the day, but did you know it can boost your immune system? Keeping adequately hydrated boosts all of your body’s systems, including increasing your ability to fight off cold and flu germs.
Tip #4: Wash Your Hands
Your hand-washing technique can go a long way toward protecting you from cold and flu symptoms. Make sure that you’re washing your hands regularly–not just when you’re in the bathroom, but regularly throughout the day. Soap and water is better for your ability to stay healthy than antibacterial gel, which can dry out your hands and create superbugs that are less likely to respond to traditional measures. Remember, you need to scrub to help get all of those germs off!
Tip #5: Change Clothes
If you have kids in public schools or daycares, where illnesses run rampant this time of year, or you or your spouse have seen an uptick in illness at work, take the time to change your clothes as soon as you come home. Wash your hands (again!) while you’re at it. This will help decrease the number of germs you’re spreading to the rest of your family and help protect them from the illnesses you’re exposed to every day.
Tip #6: Get Plenty of Sleep
The right amount of sleep can help increase your immune system and make you feel better all fall. With days getting shorter, you may be feeling more tired anyway. Go ahead and give yourself permission to go to bed a little earlier at night, and you’ll quickly discover that you feel better each day–and that you’re better prepared to fight off those nasty germs when they do appear.
Staying healthy this fall doesn’t have to be impossible. In fact, you’ll discover that by taking these simple steps, you won’t just boost your immune system. You’ll also feel better every day–and that means more energy to tackle all those fun fall activities.
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