Autumn in the Midwest brings a lot of changes for its residents; from shortened days, to unpredictable temperatures, to changing leaves, to frost-covered mornings. We at JETPUBS must be prepared to adapt and thrive as fall sets in and winter approaches (more quickly than we’d like!).
Though nesting on the couch with an assortment of fuzzy blankets, hot beverages, and a well-stocked Netflix queue can seem very tempting once the thermometer drops below 32°, it’s important to fight the urge to hibernate and take active measures to stay healthy, upbeat, and productive.
This Publisher is currently at home with the flu, but instead of bending to the temptation of my ever-growing Netflix queue, I’m at my computer (covered in blankets and enjoying a soothing hot tea), doing my best to avoid the TV and making use of this involuntary downtime by researching ways of staying healthy in the winter.
There’s plenty of practical, easy-to-follow, and not wholly surprising information available to help us keep well this winter. Here are some tips for promoting a healthy you:
- Maintain a healthy diet that is boosted with Vitamin C. Working in nutrient-rich foods can be more challenging in the winter, but look for items such as broccoli, carrots, lemons, spinach, and whole grains to keep those immunities strong.
- Exercise regularly. Exercise not only improves the immune system’s response to illness, it can also help fight the winter blues by increasing endorphin production.
- Social interaction can help strengthen the immune system by encouraging a more active lifestyle and by reducing stress levels.
- Get adequate sleep. “Adequate” means having enough sleep to keep up your white blood cell count to fight infection, while not getting too much so that it slows us down (which can be easy to do when there are so many extra hours of darkness that trick our internal clocks). Try to maintain a consistent schedule of going to sleep and waking up, even on those chilly winter weekends.
- Keep clean. Though it seems obvious, frequent hand washing is one of the best ways to avoid catching and spreading illness, especially when sneezing, coughing, and sniffling are common. The recommended duration of a truly effective hand wash is 30 seconds, so lather up!
- Stay hydrated. Although some people feel less thirsty in the winter, it’s important to keep the body well hydrated. Water helps the body carry nutrients and gets rid of toxins. A good goal is to drink half your body’s weight in ounces of water each day.
- Travel with care. If you’re taking a holiday trip or leaving town for somewhere warm, prevent the spread of germs by using extra hand sanitizer, especially if traveling by plane, train, or bus.
Winter in the Midwest is not for the faint of heart, but these simple lifestyle enhancements can work wonders for your physical and mental health during these difficult months. Actively seeking out good health not only increases the chance of being healthy, but it provides an inner motivation that boosts productivity, improves moods, and sparks an interest in life.
-Jessica Matel, JETPUBS Inc.