This post is part of my Wellness Wednesday series brought to you in sponsored partnership with Aurora Health Care.
It’s been so warm here this fall that it’s easy to forget that we are already heading into flu season. We tend to think of flu as being the thing you catch when there is snow on the ground and a freezing wind blowing through the door. But it really has very little to do with the weather and a lot to do with whether or not you are exposed to the flu virus.
But there are some things you can do to help keep your household flu free!
Wash your hands often. The first and possibly most effective way to keep the flu from ruining your day is to be meticulous about washing your hands often and with soap and water. Teach your kids to do the same by having young children sing the alphabet while they are scrubbing. That often gives them the motivation to scrub a bit longer rather than just dipping their hands into the water and calling them clean. There are some fun soap products out there that can help motivate kids to want to wash as well too.
Keep your hands off yourself. Another tips is to avoid touching your hands to your eyes, nose, and/or mouth as much as possible. I admit that this is one I really have to remind myself often. I wear contacts and rubbing my eyes can become an almost subconscious habit, especially when I’ve been wearing them all day and they are starting to feel less than comfortable.
Avoid sick people. Yes, I know that this sounds really obvious but the fact is that you can’t get sick if you are not exposed to the virus. Many times, we don’t have a choice since we usually can’t just stay home during all of flu season, but if you know someone is ill, a phone call might be better than a visit. (And as a former teacher, I have to say it: PLEASE don’t send your child to school if you suspect they are sick.)
Take care of yourself. Keeping your body in tip top shape gives you the best chance of fighting off the flu should you be exposed. Arm your body with healthy weapons like healthy food, lots of rest, and plenty of healthy hydration (think water!). Don’t do things like smoke that can weaken your body’s ability to fight of any invaders – plus it’s just plain bad for you!
Clean common areas. If one person in your house does come down with the flu, other members are likely to pick up the virus from touching common items like remotes, door knobs, light switches, or bathroom fixtures. Make it a habit to wipe these down with a disinfecting cleaner or cloth often during flu season.
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Thank you so much for sharing these tips! I do everything I can to avoid flus and colds, especially during the school season.
I need to bookmark this. When school season rolls around, I spend half of my day dodging and weaving colds, flus, and the general crud that my kids bring home from school.
This is good advice. I do tend to worry about catching the flu this time of year. I have to do my best to stay germ free!
This is why I make sure that the house is clean all the time and that the kids wash up once they’re home from school. It’s really important to have good hygiene especially when you want to stay away from flu and other viruses.
It has been really warm this fall, and I have kind of forgotten about it being flu season. These are perfect reminder tips to help keep those germs away. Thanks!
I hate when I see people walk out of the bathroom and not wash their hands. I see that way more than I should.
Knock on wood, we haven’t had the flu in a few years. These are all great tips to keep everyone in the family flu free.
It’s really important that you wash your hands properly, especially when you just got home from running errands all day. It’s good to make sure that everything is sanitized and cleaned at home as well!
I have two boys who love playing outside and it’s really important for me to make sure that they clean up afterwards. Flu is something that you can easily avoid with good hygiene! These are great tips!
Great tips… it is for sure that time of year. I’ve already had a few friends get sick and cold weather isn’t here yet.
I have never had the flu and hope I never get it. These are all such good tips to follow to keep yourself safe, especially during this time of the year!
These are so true and really awesome tips! Simple yet very effective ways to prevent flu.
Great simple tips. I would also suggest using lots of holistic remedies as well drink a lot of lemon water.