Tips for Staying Healthy During Cold Season

It seems like everyone is catching a cold these days. These colds are hanging on for what feels like forever. The sore throat goes away pretty quickly and the sniffles don’t last too long but the cough just sticks around and sticks around. And what’s worse is that it feels like you’re never going to be back to your full self in terms of energy level and upbeat feelings. Luckily, there are some things that you can do to boost your immune system so that you can avoid these colds even when everyone around you is getting them.

Get Plenty of Rest

The quickest way to weaken your immune system is to overwork and under-sleep. If you want to stay healthy during cold season then you really need to make sure that you’re getting all of the rest that you need. This doesn’t just mean sleeping enough at night either (although that’s really important). It also means making sure that you take time out throughout the day to sit down, breathe and relax. Being over-tired isn’t the only thing that weakens your immune system; stress does too. By learning to take relaxation breaks throughout the day, you’ll reduce stress and strengthen your body’s ability to fight off colds.

Get Plenty of Exercise

Ironically, you also need to make sure that you are balancing your rest with physical activity. Getting regular exercise will help your body to be stronger which is going to make it harder for those colds to get to you. Plus it’ll make you sleep better!

Drink Lots of Water

You want to keep everything that’s in your body flowing which is best done by making sure that you’re drinking enough water. It’s good to drink other things too like teas and juices but you should avoid sugar, caffeine and alcohol as much as possible and make sure that you’re drinking more water than anything else.

Pay Attention to What You’re Eating

A balanced diet is going to help your body stay strong. If you’re eating Doritos and ice cream all day then you’re not going to have a great immune system. And if you’re skipping meals and not eating a balanced diet then you’re actively weakening your immune system as well. Take time out for five or six small, healthy meals each day. Make sure to eat foods rich in antioxidants. Sit down and relax while eating these meals to aid proper digestion.

Avoid People Who Are Ill

When those colds start going around, you need to make sure that you’re getting away from the people who have them. Of course, sometimes we can’t help being around sick people; we have to care for sick kids and we usually don’t kick the spouse to the couch because of a cold. But choosing to limit your interaction with people who have colds is a good idea. If a friend you’re supposed to meet for lunch says she’s not feeling well but can make it anyway, tell her you’d rather reschedule for a time when she’s feeling better.

Respond to the First Signs of a Cold

As soon as you feel that itch in your throat in the morning or that ache in your muscles at night, go full speed ahead with some major self-care. Take the day off of work, tuck yourself into bed and treat yourself as though you are really truly sick. Eat chicken soup with lots of garlic. Suck on lemons or drink lemonade. Nap. It should only take one day of this kind of pampering to strengthen your immune system again and stop you from really getting sick.