Okay, we are surrounded by coughers, sneezers, moaners. If I didn’t know better, I would think I was an extra on The Walking Dead. But I know it’s worse than that: I am trapped in cold and flu season… with other people. To fight off the walkers (and germ spreaders) here are some tips to keep you healthier this season.
1. Water is your friend. Drink and drink often to keep you body in tip-top, germ-fighting shape. For the amount of water you are supposed to drink each day, it actually isn’t the standard 8 ounces anymore. At WebMD they explain that you should drink between “half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weigh, everyday.” So for example a 140 pound person would need to drink between 70 and 140 ounces a day. If you are more active and in a hotter area you would drink on the higher end of the spectrum and vice versa.
2. Gloves: So stay with me on this. If you are in a colder place, you can wear gloves and not look too weird. And the best part is they are twofold: Keep your hands warm and be a germ barrier. Wear your gloves as you go into buildings to handle door knobs and greet people. Once you are at your desk, you can take them off. Wearing gloves to open doors is a lot cooler than trying the elbow trick or fancy foot work.
3. Exercise: Slug life may be tempting, but if your body gets sluggish, then so does your immune system. Don’t get weak! Keep working out and keep that blood pumping. One way to burn some calories from time that you would have wasted is with a standing desk. (See how I slipped that in?) A study reported by BBC states that subjects who stood burned up to 50 calories an hour. So instead of slumping our your keyboard, evolve to a healthier choice and stand at an Evodesk standing desk. Burn those calories and get your body ready to fight off fatigue and the sniffles.
4. Vampire it: If you do cough, cough into the crook of your arm, not your hand. This will put your germs in a place where most people don’t touch you. Could you imagine shaking someones elbow? Weird. And if someone does sneeze allover their keyboard, starts typing, and then asks to borrow your pen, you have my permission to hiss at them like a vampire which brings us full circle.
5. Continue being a vampire: Sleep is key. Don’t sleep all day (unless you need it) but a good nine hours will recharge your body and it’s mugh better than the pitiful six hours most of us are getting. The right amount of sleep helps heal you and gets you ready to get out of bed and fight another germy day.
To add any other helpful tips to fight off colds, put them in the comments below. And until spring has sprung, don’t get bit.
