As winter arrives, temperatures drop, days get shorter, and we're all more prone to getting sick. In this article, we explain how to give yourself the best chance of staying healthy through winter.
It's never pleasant to catch a cold, and as the winter months approach, when the risk of catching a cold or the flu is higher, it's important to remember a few good habits to stay healthy.
Fortunately, there are many daily practices you can adopt to keep germs at bay as the cold season arrives. In this article, we'll share a few important tips to help you avoid getting sick this winter.
Maintain good hygiene (especially hand hygiene)
Good hygiene, as always, can help you avoid getting sick. This means showering regularly, avoiding touching your face as much as possible, and always keeping hand sanitiser nearby.
You use your hands to eat, touch, hold, and carry objects, clean, scratch, wipe yourself, or greet other people. Hands are the part of the body most exposed to germs and substances present in the environment and in spaces where other people are present, such as offices, schools, hospitals, shopping centres, and public transport.
Not washing your hands regularly can quickly spread germs and expose you to illness, regardless of the season or where you are. So, don't forget to wash your hands regularly! By applying these habits every day, you'll increase your chances of not getting sick.
Getting enough sleep
We've all heard this advice, we often repeat it to ourselves, but it's rarely followed. It's important to remember that getting enough sleep is an essential part of our overall health. During the cold months, getting enough sleep and making sure your body has the energy it needs to function properly can help you avoid getting sick. To stay healthy, try to prioritise sleep and get the daily rest hours you need.
If lack of sleep is ruling your nights, it can really disrupt your days and cause premature ageing.
Learning to manage your stress
Taking the lead in managing your stress and taking care of yourself is an excellent way to stay healthy. In addition to having a devastating effect on the mind, stress can, over time, have serious consequences on the body. As you can imagine, when your body is exhausted, it can be hard to avoid getting sick.
Every day, you can find a way to recharge. Whether it's a long walk or simply enjoying a few minutes of calm, this can help you preserve your health and overall wellbeing during the winter months, and more generally throughout the year.
For more information on how to manage stress, we invite you to read our article "Recognising good stress and managing bad stress"
Eating healthily and drinking enough water
Eating nutritious food and staying properly hydrated can help you avoid getting sick. The food you eat and the amount of water you drink play an essential role in your overall wellbeing, which is why paying attention to these habits every day can help you stay healthy. Nutrient-rich foods, such as vegetables and leafy greens, strengthen the immune system, unlike sugary foods and alcohol. Drinking water supplies oxygen to the organs that need it to function properly; it also helps flush unwanted toxins from the body that inhibit the immune system.
Eating well isn't just for losing weight, it's also for keeping your body healthy. Since good nutrition and good health are closely linked, favouring healthy foods helps avoid getting sick in winter.
Exercising… outdoors
Breathing the warm, dry air that often circulates indoors during cold and flu season can make you much more likely to get sick. Infectious illnesses, such as flu and cold viruses, thrive in dry, warm environments.
By spending more time outdoors exercising, you'll not only strengthen your immune system and improve your overall health, but you'll be exposed to cold weather and humid air that won't carry unwanted germs into your respiratory tract.
Sick this winter? Not this year.
As winter approaches, the best way to protect yourself and avoid getting sick is to follow a few good habits to strengthen your immune system as much as possible. By following the tips above, you can give yourself the best chance of staying healthy this winter.
