HEALTH

Is everyone sniffling and sneezing up a storm around you? From a whopper of a flu season to the standard winter cold, people are falling ill all over the place. But not you! Here’s how to avoid getting sick this season.

Cool it, cutie!
Stress compromises your immune system in a major way, so taking small steps to keep calm and carry on will help you stay healthy, hunnie. Yoga, meditation, journaling, even a mellow mama playlist can keep you cool as a cucumber.

Sleep tight
Not getting enough sleep hurts your bod just as much as stress does—surprising, right? Aim for snagging eight hours of shut-eye a day, and we don’t mean clocking the time between lights out and your wake-up call. You want to be catching zzz’s for eight solid hours, so do whatever is needed to wind down early.

Oh say, can you C
When your buds are calling in sick, you know it’s time to start chugging some O.J. Boosting your vitamin C consumption will instantly give your immune system the jump start it needs. Other options? Leafy greens, broccoli, strawberries, peppers, and tomatoes.

Hands off!
If your bestie is sick, don't go rifling through her purse for a pen. And definitely don't borrow her Burt's Bees. Try to stop yourself from touching your face or biting your nails. Germs are easily spread by coming into contact with your mucus membranes–you know, the sticky bits in your nose and your mouth. Yucky.

Wash up
If you knew how many germs were lurking on the classroom pencil sharpener, you’d probably never want to touch it again. While getting touchy-feely with germs is actually good for your immune system in small doses, you don’t need to slather it on. Moral of the story? Hit the bathroom between classes to scrub down.

What’s your tried-and-true trick for not getting sick? Tell us in the comments!

by Brittany Taylor | 1/31/2018