It’s that time of year. Classrooms and dorm hallways echo with sounds of coughs, sneezes, and blowing noses. Don’t let this become you. Staying healthy this fall can be done if you follow these eight easy steps.
1. Wash your hands often and thoroughly.
Everyone should know this basic step, but it’s worth restating. Washing your hands is the most important thing you can do to stay healthy. Wash your hands before and after eating, after going to the bathroom, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. Also, try not to touch your eyes, mouth or nose to avoid letting bacteria in.
2. Carry hand sanitizer with you.
Hand sanitizer is the next best thing to washing your hands with water. Be sure to invest in hand sanitizer if you’re not always close to a bathroom. Bonus: Bath and Body Works has hand sanitizers that come in a variety of sweet smells.
3. Get enough sleep.
Never fall asleep in class again! Everyone knows how important sleep is and that as adults, we need about eight hours to be able to function effectively. If your body doesn’t receive enough sleep, you won’t be able to fight off colds as easily either.
4. Take your vitamins.
Take your vitamins daily to give your immune system an extra boost. Look for the multivitamins that help boost your immune system, or get some extra Vitamin C. On the plus side, the gummy ones taste like candy!
5. Disinfect common surfaces.
Think of all the things in your life you touch that are full of germs — everything from your phone to your doorknob. Invest in some Lysol wipes and wipe down surfaces that you touch a lot to protect yourself from getting sick, and to protect others, too.
6. Eating a healthy diet.
Who knew eating healthy would also help you stay healthy? Try your hardest to eat a well-balanced diet — including lots of fruits and veggies — to make you feel your best.
7. Don’t share drinks or food with others.
Sharing drinks and food with others, especially those who are sick, never ends well. When in doubt, don’t do it. It’s just not worth it.
8. Avoid stress.
Avoiding stress is hard for many college students, but it’s an important part of staying healthy. Find what works with you, whether it’s exercising, reading, writing, meditation, or listening to music. Finding a way to avoid stress will make you much happier and healthier this fall.
Hopefully these tips will help you have a happy and healthy fall! Who has time for being sick? Definitely not us!