10 Tips for Staying Healthy During Flu/Virus Season - For Teachers!
Flu and virus season is upon us! Which means it’s a terribly scary time to work with children who cough, sneeze, and wipe with little caution! While there’s only so much you can do to prevent that from happening, there are some concrete ways to lower your chances of catching something. With the the flu being particularly rough this year, it’s important we do everything we can do to stop the spread of the virus. Start with yourself and practice some healthy habits with our 10 easy tips below!
1.) Pack a pen
This might seem like a bizarre piece of advice, but trust us on this one! Think of how many times in a day you might borrow a pen (or anything else) from a stranger, or a counter at a place like the bank. Now think of how many people have touched that same pen, now think of how many of those people haven’t recently washed their hands, and might be fighting a virus or infection. Yikes!
2.) Shower when you get home
Changing out of your school clothes as soon as you arrive home, and then showering is really easy (and relaxing!) transition. While you might have an immune system of steel, you’re still covered in all of the germs and viruses that you might have picked up at school, and while you might be ok, others in your home might not be so lucky. Plus, the longer these things linger, the greater the chance of them possibly spreading. While we’re on the subject, don’t be afraid to say “no thank you” to hugs or other close contact with children who might be sniffly. You could even make it a classroom rule to put hugs on “pause.”
3.) Load up on the vitamin C & E
These two vitamins are power houses for our immune system. If you’re feeling extra motivated, you can throw some vitamin D into the mix too! Vitamin C is known to boost your body's own infection fighting power, while Vitamin E is a strong antioxidant. Taking both of these things together could slow a cold down by a whole 1 and a half days, which is a big deal if you’re not feeling great.
4.) Tea & honey
There’s no better way to boost your hydration than by drinking a hot glass of comforting tea! If you need your caffeine fix, green tea with ginger and lemon is a great way to keep your immune system in tip top shape. Any herbal tea will soothe you later in the day if you need a caffeine free variety. Plus, lemon thins mucus and honey contains antibacterial properties. One teaspoon of honey is also known to help relieve the pain of a sore throat.
5.) 20 mins of sleep
This is one of our favorite tricks. We know it’s hard to get to bed early. Between your lesson planning, dinner time, and other nightly tasks, it seems like bedtime gets so easily pushed back. However, if you can force yourself to get under the covers just 20 minutes early every night, that’s 100 extra minutes of sleep for your work week! Not only will you feel more energized, but a well rested body is better at fighting off viruses and infection.
6.) Green Juice
The USDA recommends eating five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day. To some this might seem like a lot, especially for people who don't like the taste, texture, and smell of fruits and vegetables, but there are other creative ways to work them into your routine so you know your body is getting the nutrients it needs. Almost every grocery store stocks green juices, or smoothies with up to 5 servings of veggies. Most of which are so good, you can’t even taste the vegetables! Just be sure to double check there’s not too much added sugar.
7.) Use a cool steam humidifier
Cool mist humidifiers (if allowed at your school) are truly a secret weapon. If you can’t have wont in your classroom, be sure to snag one for your home. Doing so will substantially decrease the spread of viruses through the air, PLUS make it easier for you to breathe if you’re already sick. Viruses are substantially less likely to survive in a more humid environment. We’re a fan of cool mist humidifiers as they’re less likely to encourage the growth of mold.
8.) Exercise
Breaking a sweat can help rid your body of toxins and germs along with keeping your immune system working hard. When your heart rate goes up, your whole body is gaining strength. Just be sure not to push yourself if you’re feeling unwell. Chug some extra water during your routine to make sure you’re not adding to any dehydration. Never workout with a fever or chills, or if you think you might be suffering from something contagious.
9.) Sanitize
Sanitizing might seem like a no brainer, but make sure you don’t forget to do areas of your home or classroom that are high traffic, like light switches (think about how much these are touched!). Microwaves, printers, your phone, computer keyboards, desk surface, toilet flush handles, and basically anything else you’re touching more than once a day. Keep sanitizing wipes within reach so that you’re always ready to swipe away anything yucky.
10. ) Stay Home
We know it’s tough - your boss might give you a difficult time, or maybe you’re out of sick days and worried about your income. However, some viruses, left untreated can be deadly. It’s so important to put ourselves first and make the decision to go home or stay home. If you’re worried about your place of employment being unforgiving, there’s not much they can do if you’re under doctors orders to stay home. See if just calling will be enough to get a hold of a note.
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This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
