Wellness Tips To Keep the Entire Family Healthy
Life is busy and stressful, which means maintaining yours and your family’s health is never easy. While everyone is likely to catch a cold now-and-again, abiding by healthy habits will likely prevent you and your loved ones from falling ill. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done and is particularly challenging during cold and flu season. Here are a few tips on how to fight off germs and boost immunity now, so that your family can stay happy and healthy all year long!
WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN
One of the most effective ways to avoid getting sick is by developing good hygiene habits. Properly washing your hands is perhaps the most important health hack everyone in the house should be practicing. Surfaces and objects host plenty of germs, which find their way inside your body when you unconsciously touch your face. To prevent this, wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Encouraging your child to wash their hands for this long is a challenge in itself, so try to make the process more fun. Find a song that they love, and have them sing the chorus (or any part that is at least 20 seconds) while they scrub their hands. It’ll be a blast and they’ll be healthier for it.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL REMEDIES
Someone in your family will inevitably feel sick at some point. Whether you’re suffering from a fever, a runny nose, or a scratchy throat, there are plenty of holistic approaches to boost your wellness.
Fluids are a great natural remedy for colds because they hydrate and have healing properties. Vitamin C supports the immune system, so pour a cold glass of orange or grapefruit juice for the entire family. Another easy way to boost your wellness through fluids is by adding ginger, honey, or turmeric to your drink. They are anti-inflammatory and are often used to relieve sore throats as well as other cold symptoms, and are overall great for overall wellness. So if you enjoy tea, make a hot herbal or green tea with honey or ginger, which is not only delicious but will also help manage a sore throat. Another solution is to gargle warm salt water as salt has many healing properties and kills nasty bacteria in the throat and mouth.
Moreover, colds and influenza thrive in low-humidity environments, which you can combat with a humidifier or by taking hot showers. The moisture in the air can help with congestion and scratchy throats, enabling you to feel more comfortable. Oftentimes we’re not prepared for these sick days and don’t have what is necessary to treat ourselves or family members. If you find yourself out of stock in a moment of need, consider a home delivery service to get essentials like vitamins, cold and flu remedies, food, and other wellness essentials to your home painlessly. Now you can stay home, rest, sip your ginger tea, and focus on feeling better.
MANAGE STRESS LEVELS
Stress can be detrimental to the body’s immune system. It is believed that when you experience psychological stressors, your body has a more difficult time fighting off illnesses. While everyone is prone to varying degrees of stress, managing it is essential. Be sure to check in with your partner, your kids, and yourself often. Find different hobbies or outlets as methods for stress relief, such as walks, journaling, art, or meditation. Reducing stress will not only keep you healthier, it’ll make you happier as well.
GET ADEQUATE SLEEP
Sleep is crucial for the body to stay healthy. The amount of sleep that one needs depends on age. Newborns ideally get around 15 hours a day and adults typically need at least seven. Unfortunately, many people don’t even come close to getting the proper amount of sleep, which has many negative health implications, including weight gain, mood changes, and weakened immunity. To counteract this, set up a good bedtime routine for the entire family. Set strict bedtimes for your kids, limit screen time at night, and make sure to keep sedentary activities to a minimum during the day. You can even create a sleep tracker to be sure everyone is getting enough z’s so that you all are well-rested.
KEEP YOUR SPACE CLEAN
Much like washing your hands, keeping the objects and surfaces that we touch clean is fundamental to staying healthy. Think of everyday items we use — cell phones, your kid’s favorite toys, computers, doorknobs — and imagine how many germs exist on them. Gross, right? At home, make it a routine to disinfect things that are touched consistently and carry disinfectant wipes to quickly wipe down the shopping carts and doorknobs that you come across in public. And don’t forget to wash your hands!
EAT WELL
A healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals is essential to strengthening the immune system. Foods that are rich in vitamins C and D are known to be particularly effective in helping the body fight off colds. There are so many immune-boosting foods that you can start using in your everyday recipes. Since kids are generally picky eaters, try mixing vegetables in eggs, sandwiches, and soups. Your kid will hardly notice and might even learn to enjoy them! By switching out more processed foods for healthier fruits and veggies, you’ll be giving the entire family’s immune system a boost and you will all feel better for it.
COVID has brought a lot of these health concerns to the forefront of everyone’s daily lives. There is so much emphasis on washing hands, avoiding crowded areas, and refraining from touching germ-heavy objects. Applying these practices, along with others, will not only reduce the risk of being infected with COVID but also other common colds and influenza that exist today. With these mindful habits, you and your family can avoid the burden of being sick, and focus on loving and enjoying each other’s company.