5 Common Sense Tips to Avoid the Flu

It's cold and flu season. It's an important time to take steps to up your immunity. Here are a few ways to slow down and take care of yourself physically. Each of these ideas only take a few minutes but they will help you feel better all day long. It’s easier to be patient and parent well when you are feeling your best.

1. Drink plenty of water

General good health practices keeps your body ready to fend off cold germs and the flu virus and that includes drinking plenty of water. In fact, one study found that staying hydrated may boost a particular immune response to enable your body to better fight viruses.

2. Relaxing to reduce stress

Take a few moments to reduce the tension in your lower back by lying on the floor with your feet supported on a chair so that your hips are flexed ninety degrees. Another choice is to prop your straight legs up against a wall and relax that way. Open your arms out to the side with your palms up. If you are having trouble relaxing your head and neck, you can use a small pillow.

3. Get to bed a little bit earlier

Let projects wait while you get the rest you need. Taking care of yourself now gives you more energy and makes you more productive in the long run.

4. Wash up!

Even if your personal hygiene is already impeccable, be sure to share that skill. It's a good idea to teach your children how to wash their hands thoroughly. Singing all the way through their ABC's is one way to be sure you are taking enough time to clean away the germs. A nail brush can help.

5. Eat throughout the day

This is also a good tip to help your children grow and to keep them from feeling fussy (as well as yourself). Children thrive on a regular eating schedule. It’s a good idea to keep nuts or other snacks that are easy to transport with you in case you can’t get home in time for a meal. When children feel better, they act better. That's less stress for everyone.

For moms, the practice of not eating in order to "save" for a party or special meal is counter-productive. Hunger will drive you to eat more than usual. Research shows that women are particularly likely to store fat if excess calories are eaten at one big meal rather than eating the same total amount of food spread out over the day. Five hundred calories at a time seems to be the female upper limit.

Bonus sixth tip!

6. Teach your children how to sneeze and cough

In the case illness happens, as it sometimes will no matter how careful you are, be sure your children know how to sneeze and cough into their bent arm and not onto their hands. This helps contain germs to a place not as easily spreadable, reducing the chance of making anyone else sick, including you. Besides, it's also the polite thing to do.

I hope these five six steps will help you through cold and flu season. Staying cheerful and loving also reduced stress so just being a mom is good medicine for your family.