- Keep your neck covered and warm with a scarf, especially on windy days.
- Eat the rainbow.
(Although
it’s not really the season for certain fruits and veggies, make
sure you’re filling yourself with lots of colorful produce!
Whether it’s frozen or fresh, produce is the most important
health tool money can buy. Eating a wide variety of fruit and
vegetables will ensure you get all the essential vitamins and
minerals you need, which is especially important in the winter when
there is less sunlight and less time outside.)
- Wash your hands often.
(It’s
simple hand washing that can stop germs from spreading from one
person to another and throughout an entire community. It’s one
of the easiest, most effective ways to avoid getting sick.)
- Get lots of sleep.
(Cranking
up the heat may seem like a cozy way to however as we sleep, our
body acclimates to the room temperature and if we lower our body
temperature in a cooler room, we are likely to sleep better.
Optimal temperatures tend to range between 68 and 72 degrees).
- Leave time for relaxation, reflection and stress-reduction daily.
Comprised
of organs, tissues, cells and cell products that all work together to
fight harmful substances causing infection and disease, the immune
system is the body’s form of defense. Stress keeps more than 40
percent of adults lying awake at night. To help ensure you get the
recommended seven or eight hours of sleep, cut back on caffeine,
remove distractions such as television or computers from your
bedroom and go to bed at the same time each night.
- Laugh with your family and friends!
(Seasonal
Affective Disorder is a REAL THING! And it can affect a lot more than
just your mood. Fatigue, irritability, depression, anxiety, and
even physical discomfort can result from the changing of the
seasons. The best way to beat the winter blues is to get outside
daily.)
- Practice easy stretching exercises.
(Exercise
is important all throughout the year, but even more so in the winter
when we are more sedentary. A regular workout routine will
boost your immunity, reducing your risk of cold and flu, and
improving your mood and raising your energy.)
- Soak up the sunshine on on sunny winter days.
(To
improve mood and recharge, make an effort to
get outside in the light and fresh air at least once a day. Not
only is it good for replenishing your vitamin D needs which is a
key nutrient that aids our Immune system. Most people become
deficient in vitamin D during the winter).
Self-care can help keep you well during the winter; however, if you do find yourself with an illness, we are available to help. Contact the office for an appointment. Also, don't forget to get your flu vaccine!!