As winter comes to an end, we can’t be more excited to welcome spring! But before the weather changes make sure you finish out the season strong and healthy. Here are some tips to ensure you don’t end up under the weather!
Stay active. You also want to make sure you keep moving – moderate exercise like walking an hour each day can really help you boost your immune system and keep you cold and flu-free. Additionally, there’s lots of indoor activities to embrace over winter, such as yoga, bowling, dancing, soccer and so on. The key is making your winter activity enjoyable and social.
Wash your hands often. When we pay close attention to good hand hygiene and wash our hands at least five times a day we can protect ourselves (and others) from catching or transmitting viruses. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, germs can get on your hands from a variety of sources. Washing them often will rid your hands of the germs and help you protect yourself from respiratory infections and viruses.
Get enough sleep. If your body is tired, your immune system won’t be able to keep up and protect you from illness and infection. Research suggests at least eight hours of sleep each night is optimal to help you protect your health.
Watch what you eat and drink. Winter is a great time to re-think the size of your meal, especially with foods such as rice, pasta and potatoes which, while delicious, can be easy to over-serve. Choosing a healthy amount for you can help to manage your weight, and free up space on your plate for more vegetables! It is also very important that you stay properly hydrated and choose water over sugary drinks.
Get outside and get some sun. Even if it’s cold, bundle up and get outside for some fresh air and sunlight, which is essential to help our bodies produce vitamin D. In the northern half of the U.S. the sun’s rays may be too weak to offer this benefit, so ask your doctor if you can take a multivitamin supplement with vitamin D to boost your energy and your mood.
Moisturize your skin and the air. Wintertime can be harsh on our skin and our lungs. The air is drier than usual and you can help protect your skin and lips by applying moisturizer and lip balm. The air inside can also affect our health – using a simple air humidifier can alleviate discomfort caused by dry nasal passages.