Do you want the good news or bad news first?
We’ll start with the good news:
It’s officially the Christmas Season!
Time for snowball fights and some sledding; For hot cocoa and cozy fires and maybe indulging yourself a little with sweet treats and long naps.
And now for the bad news:
It’s cold and flu season. Time for sniffles…and runny noses…and sore throats…and coughing and fevers and…
And according to The Washington Post, it’s the most intense and harshest one we’ve seen in about a decade.
Just when you were about to pull out your fuzzy fleece blanket and watch your favorite Christmas movie, you may find yourself pulling out the tissue box and humidifier.
Why can’t we have cold weather without having colds?
We can!
You probably already know this, but now’s a good time to brush up on some healthy common sense practices. Here are five tips on keeping you and yours well this holiday season:
- WASH YOUR HANDS!
Viruses are spread mainly by coughs and sneezes, so it’s important to wash your hands. Why? Because if an infected person coughs or sneezes into their hands and then touches any surface, the virus can — and most assuredly will –spread to the next person who touches the contaminated surface. The best prevention is THOROUGHLY washing your hands with warm, soapy water. This will make sure that any virus you picked up will be washed away. You will not only be helping yourself, but you will also prevent spreading the germs to others. You’ll be a hero!
- STAY WARM.
You know how your parents and grandparents always wanted you to wear socks inside and stay bundled up outside because they were afraid that you would catch a cold? They weren’t wrong. A study conducted by Yale University researchers suggests that the Cold virus replicates better at cooler temperatures. If you’re cold, you’re literally more susceptible to the cold and flu. Put some socks on and stay warm!
- DON’T SHARE EATING OR DRINKING UTENSILS.
This should go without saying, but sharing cups, forks, spoons, even plates, napkins, towels, and household items with someone who has a cold or the flu WILL end up making you sick. You can wash your hands all you want, but if you share the same contaminated items, all bets are off.
- REST.
A rested body is a healthy body. Getting plenty of sleep is a vital part of it. But, resting is also a huge factor in staying well. If you’re physically tired, take a break. Rest your body. Rest your mind. Rest your soul. If you’re feeling stressed or worn out mentally, make sure you take some time to regain your peace. Read. Pray. Meditate. Sit with your feet up and head back for a few minutes. Sleep is essential, but rest is the source from which all of your energy is given. If you’re spent, you have nothing to give yourself or others. That includes staying healthy.
- DRINK PLENTY OF WATER (AND TEA).
We all know that good old H2O is the stuff of life. Drinking it helps to flush out toxins, impurities, and sickness. The key is getting enough. At LEAST eight cups a day. If you want to level up, make sure to sip on some hot black or green tea with lemon and honey. Drinking the tea and breathing in steam stimulates the cilia—the hair follicles in the nose—to move out germs more efficiently. The honey is antibacterial and lemon is a great way to thin out mucus.
If you want a quick rundown on the differences between cold and flu symptoms, here’s a good place to brush up.
All of this is wisdom so old it’s approaching proverb status, but that doesn’t mean it’s headed (any more than actual proverbs!). We want you to enjoy your holiday merriment to the fullest. That’s why we wanted to give you the quick refresher on staying healthy and jolly! Tis the season of wonder and excitement. It’s the season of ushering in Hope, Himself.
Don’t miss it by being sick in bed.
Sources
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/best-way-to-wash-your-hands/
https://news.yale.edu/2015/01/05/cold-virus-replicates-better-cooler-temperatures