Happy Friday! Today I’m switching up the usual Five Friday Favorites a bit. Winter is prime time for illness to hit. Whether it’s a minor cold or a more-severe flu, getting sick is no fun. And while sickness is not entirely avoidable, staying healthy is a pretty good goal. 🙂 As a college student surrounded by other college students (germs everywhere!), I know that’s no easy feat. I am pretty careful when it comes to maintaining my health, and I certainly have some favorite ways to do that. I don’t get sick very often, so I’d say those favorite ways work pretty well. Recently, I was inspired by Amino to share some of the ways I stay healthy in the winter. Here are my top five!
- Sleep
If you know me, you’re laughing that I put this. I don’t sleep that well. However, I know that if I slack on my already less-than-ideal sleep, I am much more likely to end up sick! I am generally in bed by 10:15 and asleep by 10:30. I So, even though I wake up around 5:30, I usually manage somewhere between 6 and 7 hours of sleep.
- Disinfect
These wipes are my best friend. I use them to clean off our bathroom sink area and the kitchen. They feel less messy than sprays and they’re just so convenient. Disinfect all the things!
- Bundle up
I used to be too proud to wear hats and scarves and gloves. But that’s silly. I came to Chicago and got a parka and snow boots. I realized that everyone looks and feels a little ridiculous all bundled up in winter clothes. But feeling like you look funny for 10 minutes outside is far superior to feeling sick for a week or more!
- Wash your hands
This is so easy and as someone who uses a public bathroom a lot, I’m seriously surprised at how many people don’t do it. The only downside is that it dries out your hands a little bit. Find a soap that smells great and a lotion you love, and you’re all set.
- Eat right
This is the most fun one! Eat all the colors of the rainbow. Eat warm soup. Eat a balanced diet full of healthy carbs, protein, and healthy fats. Pack your salads full of produce. Not feeling salad in the cold weather? Make a veggie-packed soup. Eat delicious, healthy foods, and you’ll feel healthy and fabulous.
What do you do to stay healthy in the winter?
What are you loving this week?
Linking up with Heather and Katie
And if you do get sick, make sure to see a doctor. If you need a doctor, check out Amino.com. Simply type in your condition and a few details about yourself (age, sex, location, etc.) and Amino will show you a list of doctors in your area who treat that condition. Amino will even book the appointment and ensure that the doctor takes your healthcare. They provided me with this pretty infographic and some additional ideas on how to stay healthy this season, but the opinions and experience here are my own. I think helping people find good healthcare is an awesome goal, so I think Amino is pretty fabulous.
I think that if people ate, slept, and hydrated, they would be in such a better mental and physical state. You just feel brighter, like you are able to fire on all cylinders!
Yes! Health doesn’t have to be so complicated.
If I even SUSPECT someone in my house is started to get sick, I Lysol the crap out of my house. Every inch. Between a husband who gets the worst man cold ever and a toddler, I do not have time for people to get sick around me hahhaa
Absolutely! Life is busy – I don’t have time to be sick!
I have actually read that humans today are too clean. We’ve taken disinfecting to an unhealthy level and if we allowed ourselves to get dirty and exposed to germs we would strengthen our immune systems. I don’t personally roll around in the dirt but if I skip a shower for a day I don’t feel so bad.
I stay healthy by getting outside both for the fresh air, vitamin D and the cold. Cold is good for your metabolism. Have a great weekend Ellen!
I’ve read that, too. I think it’s kind of a balance thing, like pretty much everything else 🙂 Have a lovely weekend, Ellie!
Live long clorox!!! Hahaha! And sleep! That is probably the #1 most important thing!
Pretty much! 😀
I agree, sleep is so important!! And I also have trouble getting it. ? Lol, I feel so awkwardly weird as well when I bundle up! And I thought I was the only one…although I’m bundling up here in the PNW fall-winters of 30-50 degree weather, and I am pretty much the only one here who acts like it’s *that* cold. Everyone else, even when they are bundled up, is less so than me, so I always feel like a stuffed penguin or something. ? But I guess it pays off, because I get fresh air while feeling semi-comfortable and hopefully lessens my chances of getting sick.
Exactly! Whatever makes you comfortable is good!
Yay for better sleep! If I were to put my priorities into a list (hmmm… I smell a blog post!), sleep would be pretty high up on the list! Also, I am right there with you on the clorox. I wipe down my desk and counters bi-weekly, at least. It just makes me feel much better about the small confines of my room. I don’t want germs everywhere!
Have a wonderful weekend, Ellen!
That would be an interesting blog post! I like that idea. 🙂 I hope you have a lovely weekend, as well, Julia!
I am equally incredulous of the number of people who will use a public washroom and leave not having washed their hands. Its such a simple way of maintaining good hygiene and surely shouldn’t even require thought?
Your parka looks so cosy 🙂
Exactly! It’s so easy! Why don’t people do it?
Clorox wipes are a lifesaver! I try to drink a lot of water and wash my hands often during cold and flu season.
Yes! Staying hydrated is so important.
Oh, I use those Clorox disinfect wipes ALL the time at our apartment. Getting enough sleep is so important for health and keeping up a good immunity. I swear that is my favorite tip. I love to sleep. 🙂
Sleeping is awesome! 😀