How To Not Get Sick This Cold & Flu Season
Staying healthy and avoiding illness is a priority for everyone, especially in today’s fast-paced world, where we are constantly exposed to various pathogens. While it’s impossible to eliminate all risks, you can take several proactive steps to strengthen your immune system and reduce your chances of getting sick. Keep reading to discover how to not get sick this cold and flu season.
We all wonder how to avoid getting sick during cold and flu season! When everyone around us is coughing and sneezing, we want to know how to avoid catching whatever they have!
At least, that is what’s going through my mind.
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It’s not a huge deal when you’re a kid and you get sick. You miss a few days of school. Your mom serves you meals in bed. You lie around all day until you start to feel better.
But when you’re an adult, it’s an entirely different situation. There isn’t anyone around to cook and serve you meals, and some of us still have to get up and go to work even when we’re sick.
It’s no fun, so I try to avoid getting sick at all costs.
One time, everyone in my house was sick with the flu, so I wore one of those hospital masks around the house every day, hoping I wouldn’t catch what they had.
True story.
But guess what? It didn’t work. But I was desperate, so it was worth a shot.
I used to get sick all the time. If someone ill even looked at me, I would catch it. I didn’t understand why until I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and then it all began to make sense.
Over the years, I feel like I’ve become a bit of an expert on how to avoid getting sick. Since implementing the tips below, I have been able to be around people who were ill and completely avoid catching their illness.
In the past, that would have never happened.
So, with the cold and flu season fast approaching, I wanted to share all the ways I’ve been able to strengthen my immune system and avoid getting sick.
How to Not Get Sick
1 | Get Enough Sleep
Sleep deprivation suppresses immune system function. So, make sure you get enough sleep every night.
If you have sleep problems, I highly encourage you to read this post—10 Tips To Help You Fall Asleep, Stay Asleep, & Wake Up Feeling Awesome. I’ve struggled with my sleep since I was 12 years old, and I believe that played a significant role in my weakened immune system.
The post above contains all the methods and natural remedies that have completely transformed my sleep for the better.
2 | Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water is great for your immune system. Water helps your body eliminate toxins and waste materials, enabling your immune system to fight infections better.
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of drinking water, read this post. And if you’re struggling to drink enough water every day, check out this post!
3 | Consume Probiotics
Probiotics can help boost your immune system and provide many other health benefits. 70-80% of our entire immune system resides within the gut.
Probiotics help replenish the good bacteria that are often wiped out by consuming antibiotics and unhealthy foods—and we need good bacteria to keep our gut healthy.
A great way to consume probiotics is by eating fermented foods like sauerkraut, fermented carrots, or fermented jalapenos. An alternative to fermented foods is consuming a probiotic supplement.
I personally use and recommend probiotics from the brand Just Thrive. They work great, and they’re very affordable.
4 | Use Natural Hand Sanitizer
When we use antibacterial products, we destroy both the harmful and the beneficial bacteria, which actually does more harm to our health than good.
Not to mention, the FDA recommends avoiding antibacterial soaps.
I love this all-natural hand sanitizer spray made from essential oils. It’s paraben-free, SLS-free, BAC-free, cruelty-free, and free of lots of other yucky stuff.
5 | Eliminate Stress
The immune system’s ability to fight off antigens is reduced when stressed. So try your best to eliminate stress.
We can’t always control circumstances and situations in our lives, but we can control how we react to them. Try your best to manage your stress levels.
This stress relief essential oil roller blend is filled with relaxing essential oils. When I am feeling stressed, I like to roll it on my wrists and spine.
6 | Eat Healthy
Nutrition is essential for the health of your immune system. Do your best to eat more fruits and vegetables and avoid processed foods.
Drinking immune-boosting smoothies is a great way to stay healthy during the winter months. Check out this post—10 Immune Boosting Smoothies That Will Keep You Healthy All Year Long, for my favorite smoothie recipes!
7 | Take Vitamins
If you struggle to get enough vitamins from your diet, I highly encourage you to take vitamin C, vitamin B (in the form of beef liver), and vitamin K.
These vitamins play a huge role in the health of your immune system. I take these vitamins daily, not just during the cold and flu season, because they have many other incredible benefits.
8 | Use Essential Oils
Essential oils can significantly impact your immune system. I use them in my home every day during the winter months. Read this post to learn all about the best essential oils for your immune system.
9 | Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands—but not with antibacterial soaps and not excessively. If you’re in a public place or around someone who is sick, make sure you wash your hands before you put them anywhere near your face.
Just be sure to use a mild soap that doesn’t contain too many harsh chemicals. I personally use Everyone Hand Soap. It is a plant-based, all-natural hand soap.
I also have a few homemade hand soap recipes you can check out below.
- DIY Thieves Foaming Hand Soap
- Homemade Foaming Hand Soap For Fall
- Homemade Foaming Hand Soap for Spring
10 | Consume Elderberry Syrup
Consuming homemade elderberry syrup daily during the winter months is one way my family and I stay healthy and cold-free.
Elderberry syrup is not very difficult or expensive to make and has many different health benefits.
Elderberry syrup is made from the elderberry plant. Elderberries are loaded with vitamin C and other antioxidants.
Elderberry is an extremely powerful and healing herb with many medicinal properties.
Consuming elderberry syrup is an easy way to enjoy all the health benefits of elderberries.
Elderberry syrup can help boost your immune system and help it fight against bacterial and viral infections.
Check out this study and this study to learn more about elderberry’s ability to prevent and fight against the cold and flu.
You can check out my homemade elderberry syrup recipe to make your own at home!
11 | Avoid Antibiotics
Only take antibiotics when absolutely necessary. Most people overuse antibiotics, which can be very harmful to your health.
You naturally have an army of good bacteria in your gut to help you fight off sickness and infections. However, when you take antibiotics, you destroy all that awesome beneficial bacteria.
So only take antibiotics when absolutely necessary, and when you are through with them, replenish your good gut bacteria with probiotics.
Also, I highly recommend this all-natural infection-fighter formula. It is made with all-natural herbs, and it is amazing!
I have used it to treat several infections over the past few years, and I honestly don’t even remember the last time I consumed antibiotics.
12 | Drink Immunity Shots
Immunity shots are one of my favorite ways to boost my immune system and improve my health in general.
Homemade immunity shots are a simple yet powerful way to enhance the body’s natural defenses.
An immunity shot is a very small, potent elixir that is made with fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory properties.
It is a concentrated drink designed to strengthen and support the immune system.
You can check out my easy homemade immunity shot recipe to make your own at home!
Preventing illness requires a comprehensive approach that integrates healthy habits into daily life. Maintaining a nutritious diet, practicing good hygiene, getting enough sleep, managing stress, and more can significantly lower your chances of getting sick.
I really hope these tips help you stay well this cold and flu season. If you have any tips for how to avoid getting sick, please share in the comments below!
