The holiday season is upon us! The holidays also happen to coincide with cold and flu season. While the holiday season looks different for a lot of us, this year it is more important than ever to keep yourself healthy.

While the holidays can bring a lot of joy, they can also bring a lot of stress. We fall out of our daily patterns, we end up indulging more, we get less sleep, we don’t exercise or drink enough water, and we overcommit ourselves.  

As our daily habits fall off and we take on others that don’t serve us we end up compromising our immune systems. Think back over the years, do you or anyone you know have a greater tendency to get sick this time of year? The answer is probably yes.

Here are some things you can do to reduce your chances of getting a cold or the flu during the holiday season. 

• Make sure you are eating anti-inflammatory foods (berries, fatty fish, broccoli, avocado, nuts, olive oil, green leafy vegetables)

• Wash your hands often. (Hopefully this one is a no-brainer!)

• Ensure you’re getting enough Vitamin D, Vitamin C, and Zinc

• Get plenty of sleep.

• Drink lots of water.

• Get outside and walk for 20-30 minutes

• Meditate (there are tons of free recordings online. You can meditate for 5 minutes or 20. It doesn’t matter how long it just matters that you do it)

• Eat in moderation.

• Set healthy boundaries and learn how to say no.

• Set aside quiet time by yourself.

• Practice gratitude.

Keeping yourself on track with healthy habits during the holiday season will lower your chances of getting a cold or the flu. Try not to overwhelm yourself with what you should do. Just try to do a couple of these things each day to keep you on track. As always, if you need any help I’m here to support you. Click on the link below to get in contact with me.

I hope you all have a happy and safe Thanksgiving!