We just returned from an amazing skiing trip to Park City, Utah (more on that later), but the issue right now is that my husband came home with a cold. Uggh! Anyone that knows me – especially my kids – knows that I am a bit of a germaphobe! I blame that on being a teacher. Stand in front of a classroom full of sniffling children and you will quickly grow a huge aversion to germs of any kind. Seriously! Time to pull out my 7 ways to help ward off that cold.
But what to do now? The wonderful man that I share a bed with is sniffling, coughing, and tossing and turning all night long. Well, there are a few simple steps that I will be using to help protect me from catching his cold. Or at the very least minimize any cold that I get. Fingers crossed I don’t even get a hint of a cold!
7 Ways to Help Ward Off That Cold
1. Keep Clean. Wash your hands often and keep high touch areas (light switches, door knobs, phones, keyboards) clean as well. I am not a big fan of hand sanitizers – I prefer simple soap and water. But when I get worried about germs exploding by the millions I will start using a pump or two hand sanitizer. Antibacterial wipes work great for all the high touch areas. Either way – keeping germs off your hands is important.
2. Hydrate. I must admit, I am not very good at getting a lot of fluids into my body. I know it is important, but… I blame this one on being a teacher as well. When you have scheduled breaks (recess and lunch) that means there are only certain times you can head to the loo. That is not always conducive to a lot of water consumption. However, if I feel like I might be coming down with a virus, I up my fluid intake. This helps keep mucus thin and your body working in top order.
3. Neti Pot. Another way to help keep your mucus membranes clear is to use a neti pot. If I start feeling stuffy, I pull out my neti pot and use it twice a day. In the morning and again at night. The saline solution that I use helps keep germs at bay.
4. Gargle with Warm Salt Water. Not only will this help sooth a sore throat, the salt inhibits bacteria from growing. My kids really dislike this one – but I swear by it. Gargling with salt water seems to make a difference in fighting off a cold. In fact I keep a salt shaker in my medicine cabinet.
5. Sleep. Getting eight hours of sleep is almost nonexistent in my world! I wish it weren’t so, but it is. If I feel like I might be coming down with something I become a bit more cognizant of my body’s need to rest and recharge. Heading to bed a bit earlier might just give my body the extra edge it needs to fight any germs trying to take up residence in my body.
6. Enjoy a Green Smoothie. My green smoothie recipe full of kale and ginger contains a great combination of vitamins and minerals that help boost your immune system. Overall, eating a diet full of fruits and vegetables is beneficial to your health in many ways.
7. Open the Window. Keep fresh air circulating and moving any airborne germs right out of the room. This also means get outside and breathe fresh air! It’s equally as good for the soul and mind as it is for your body.
Well, these are seven habits that I try to reinforce when I feel that I might be coming down with a cold. As I said, fingers crossed I do not catch my husband’s head cold.
If I do 🙁 then it will be time to pull out my Home Remedies to Fight the Common Head Cold.
What are your tricks for staying healthy during cold and flu season?
In Italy they all used to tell me that my penchant for fresh air would get us all sick with colds. I tried to explain that colds are caused by viruses which actually spread when things are closed up but they didn’t believe me.