Written By Lewis Robinson / Reviewed By Ray Spotts

Catching an illness can be a massive inconvenience. Causing you to miss work, school, and fall behind on housework and other obligations, being sick can unexpectedly set your whole life back several steps. On top of all of that, being sick can leave you feeling miserable and debilitated. 

Right now, it is more important than ever to take extra steps to make sure that you are staying healthy. Here are some useful tips to make sure that you stay healthy and safe throughout the year. 

Disinfect Surfaces

The number of germs that live on the surfaces that you use daily might surprise you. It is important to take the time to regularly disinfect surfaces in your home and workplace, especially those that see a lot of traffic.

Countertops, doorknobs, phones, faucets, toys, pencils, and pens are just a few among many items that you may want to take special care to disinfect. If you work in a kitchen, it is especially important to regularly disinfect your restaurant equipment in order to prevent the spread of germs between staff and patrons.

Keeping a stock of antibacterial wipes is a great idea to make sure that you always have wipes on hand when you need to give surfaces a quick wipe-down.

Wash Your Hands

From a young age, you are told to wash your hands with soap and water to get rid of germs. Not only is it important to wash your hands, but you should also make sure that you are doing so thoroughly.

The CDC recommends that you wash your hands in hot water and soap for at least 20 seconds. Make sure to wash past your wrists, between your fingers, under your nails, and on the surfaces of your palms and the backs of your hands.

Additionally, it is generally recommended to use plain soap rather than an antibacterial version, unless you work in a healthcare setting. Antibacterial hand soap has not been found to provide any added benefit outside of a healthcare setting and can often kill the good germs that our bodies need to function.

Get Your Flu Shot

A flu shot is a great way to not only keep yourself healthy but to keep those around you healthy as well. Some individuals are not able to get vaccinated due to allergies or being immunocompromised, and a flu shot can prevent you from carrying a potentially fatal illness to them.

Those who have been vaccinated have a smaller chance of being infected with the virus, although the exact percentage varies from year to year. While the flu shot may not completely guarantee that you will avoid the flu altogether, it does reduce the chances, and you will also have a 26 percent lower chance of ICU admittance and a 31 percent lower chance of flu-related death.

Remember that the flu can infect anyone regardless of their age or health status, so it is always better to err on the side of caution and get a flu shot even if you think you don't need one - unless you belong to one of the parties that cannot safely receive one.

Manage Stress

Experiencing stress can increase the presence of corticosteroids, or stress hormones, in the body. These hormones can decrease the efficacy of the body's immune system. It is important to take steps to minimize the impact of stress on your body.

Take some time to engage in self-care activities such as reading, meditation, taking a relaxing bath, spending time with friends, playing with your pets, or participating in hobbies like painting and yoga.

When you take part in these kinds of stress-reducing activities, the results can help make sure that your body can properly respond to illnesses that you may experience. So, don't forget to give yourself a break now and again. 

With so much resting on your health, avoiding sickness is imperative. Follow the tips to help ensure that your health doesn't negatively impact other areas of your life. Remember that if you do get sick, to take care of yourself and take some time off work to recover. 

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Written By:

Lewis Robinson is a freelance writer and expert in health and fitness. When he isn’t writing he can usually be found reading a good book or hitting the gym.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash