Five Tips for Staying Healthy This Holiday Season

The holidays can be trying, especially when you're struggling with an unexpected illness. To make sure you stay healthy and happy this season, learn some smart ways to limit your exposure to germs.
Reducing Your Risk
Since they occur during the peak of flu and cold season, the holidays often come with coughs and sniffles. You can reduce your risk of falling ill with the following tips:

1. Sanitize frequently. Use hand sanitizer liberally, especially at work and when shopping around large crowds of people.
2. Don't touch your face. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, ears or mouth, since this is the how germs typically enter your body.
3. Wash your hands. Be sure to scrub for at least 20 seconds to remove as many virus and bacteria particles as possible.
4. Disinfect regularly. Clean and disinfect surfaces at work, home or school, especially when you know someone is sick.
5. Quarantine sick children. If you have to take care of a sick child, do your best limit their movements around the home. You may also want to designate a specific bathroom for his or her personal use if possible.

Boosting Your Immune System
The holiday season can bring significant stress which can compromise your immune function. Many people also neglect their exercise routines during this time, due to strict schedules and unforgiving weather. To keep your immune system functioning at its best, be sure to stay physically active. You should also drink plenty of fluids and eat a nutritious diet filled with fruits and leafy-green vegetables.
Countless studies have also associated sleep deprivation and stress with reduced immune function. During the holidays, it’s not always easy to get eight hours of sleep. It can also be hard to manage stress associated with awkward social interactions that come with holiday parties and family get-togethers.
To stay healthier this holiday season, be sure to prioritize sleep and try your best to avoid unnecessary stress. By focusing on your own well-being, you will be better equipped to make the holidays happy for your friends, your family and yourself.