How I stay healthy in the winter

Trying to stay healthy this winter? Me too! I am one of those lucky people that doesn’t get sick much. Want to learn how I stay healthy in the winter? Read on!

I am one of those lucky people that don’t get sick often. (knock on wood).  

My dad always said it was because my sisters and I were farm kids. We played in the dirt and ended up eating our fair share of it. He put it this way, “When you have been outside all morning sorting cattle, and someone hands you a sandwich, you don’t say I have to wash my hands first. You eat the damn sandwich!”

There is probably some truth to that.

But I also take particular care of myself in the winter to prevent myself from getting sick in the first place. Here is how I go about it.

I get lots of sleep.

Winter is cold and dark, so why not spend some extra time in bed? My theory is that when you are sick, you need to rest, so if you get plenty of rest that you won’t get sick the first place. Right? Well, the Mayo Clinic agrees with me.  

I take walks.

When I was a kid and was sick enough to stay home from school, my mom still made me do my afternoon farm chores. “The fresh air will make you feel better,” she told me. For the most part, she was right. Now I make it a habit to get fresh air every day.  

Minnesota winters make this hard sometimes. Last year around this time, it was so cold that the air hurt your face, but what are you going to do. On days like that, I might limit it to the time it takes to walk my dog out to his spot to do his business, but on nicer days, we spend a bit more time trudging through the snow.

I drink all the wellness teas.

I am a massive fan of SleepyTime and Traditional Medicinal teas. My tea drinking started way to keep my hands warm in the cold warehouse and it morphed into obsession, During the winter, I switch to Echinacea teas to help boost my immune system. I drink Gypsy Cold Care in the cold afternoons and Echinacea Plus before bed.

Wellness teas may be a bit woo-woo for some people. But I think it helps. And drinking warm liquids when you are sick makes you feel better.

I am not a hugger.

Cold and Flu season is when my year-around standoffishness pays off. I am far less likely to be exposed to germs when I am hugging every sick aunt and cousin that comes to visit. But in all seriousness, the easiest way to not get exposed to viruses is to stay away from sick people. If they do get into your orbit (or sneak attack hug you) was your hands after.

I also want to say that if you do get sick, do your family and coworkers a favor and stay home and get well. No one wants to get sick, and most coworkers would much rather pick up your slack then get your flu.

Just a few easy lifestyle changes can mean the difference between spending the winter surrounding by spent tissues and moving forward with your life.  It’s worth a shot, right?

PS – How I prepare for winter.