Do you know the most effective ways to prevent this year’s horrible flu? Keep yourself and your family safe from the dangers of the flu this winter by following our helpful guide. Keep reading to learn useful tips to help you survive the flu season.

Strengthen Your Immune System

One of the best things you can do to protect yourself from the flu this winter is to make sure you have a strong and healthy immune system. After all, your immune system is one of your most powerful defenses when it comes to fighting off the flu virus. Keep your immune system strong by following these easy steps:

1.) Avoid Stress

Recently, studies have proven that stress can diminish your ability to stay healthy, especially during flu season. Anything you can do to get rid of stress would be helpful for your immune system. De-stressing can be something as simple as enjoying a hot cup of tea or taking a short mediation break after a busy work day. It can also mean watching your favorite movie or enjoying a nice dinner with friends. There are many different ways to relax. What’s important is that you find a method that works best for you and that you practice that method every day to get rid of any stress that may creep up in your life.

2.) Make Sure You’re Getting Enough Rest

It turns out our parents were right by giving us a bedtime when we were young. When a person consistently gets at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night, they are more likely to have a stronger immune system. This is because when you sleep your body has the opportunity to repair cells and maintain your immune system.

To ensure you sleep peacefully each night, consider doing the following each night:

Limit your amount of screen time before bed. This includes cellphone, computer, and television usage.
Avoid caffeine after noon. For the average person, it takes four to six hours to metabolize caffeine. If there is any remaining caffeine in your system when you try to go to sleep it can block a sleep-promoting chemical in your body from working. This can keep you tossing and turning all night.
Keep the thermostat between 62 and 70 degrees. Studies show people tend to stay asleep longer in rooms within this temperature range.
Eat sleep-promoting foods like cheese, nuts, and grains.
Block out any bothersome noise with noise cancelling devices or with a white noise machine.

3.) Exercise And Eat Healthy

While it’s great to take your vitamins every day, it’s important to remember that the best way to get the nutrients you body needs is by eating healthy food. Eating an ample amount of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as maintaining a balanced diet is a great way to give your body the nutrients and vitamins it needs to be strong and healthy.

You can make your immune system even stronger by making sure you get at least thirty minutes of moderate physical activity a day. This can be in the form of walking, cycling, swimming, or jogging. No matter what your age is, there is a friendly exercise activity available for you to try.

4.) Get Your Flu Shot

One of the best ways you can protect yourself from the flu is to get a flu shot each year. In fact, the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), states that this is the best way to avoid catching the flu each year.

Make sure you ask your local health care provider about the available flu vaccines in your area. If you live in California’s Central Coast, VNA & Hospice provides the flu vaccine at their Walk-In Clinics.

The CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine in mid-autumn, right before the flu season officially begins. However, you can get the flu vaccine at any point. Remember, when it comes to your health, it’s better late than never.

Protect Yourself From Germs

You can increase your chances of avoiding the flu this year by protecting yourself from germs. Increase your chances of staying healthy by practicing these simple habits:

1.) Always Wash Your Hands

It’s crucial that you wash your hands properly after using the restroom, before eating, or after you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose. Proper hand washing means you need to wash your hands for at least twenty seconds. That’s about the same amount of time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” in your head twice. Remember, these twenty seconds can make all the difference when it comes to keeping germs out of your body.

2.) Keep Your Work Area Clean

Make sure you wipe down your work area every so often, especially if you work in an office setting. Desks, keyboards, and phones can quickly become a germ hot spot if they are not properly sanitized.

No one wants to catch the flu. By following the steps listed above, you can strengthen your immune system and fight off germs. This will help increase your chances of avoiding the flu this winter.