Keeping Those Bugs at Bay
- George Longland
- Dec 7, 2018
- 6 min read
8 lifestyle habits you can adopt right now to help keep you healthy this winter.
Having a cold is frankly rubbish. Runny noses, sore throat and a barking cough (if you’re extra lucky). Bleurgh. I rarely get severe colds but when I do, it doesn’t just mean feeling awful – it also means cancelling hypnotherapy sessions and losing business. As a self-employed, single parent on a pretty low income, this can mean the difference between a Sunday roast and beans on toast for the kids – so I am super vigilant. One sniffle and I jump into a bottle of echinacea, but for those with weakened immune systems it can be a lot worse.
Depending on your immune system, you may be more prone to colds therefore will probably be well-versed in germ-prevention. But for the rest of us, there are everyday lifestyle things we can do to naturally lower our chances of catching or spreading those germs being so generously offered round at this time of year.
I’m not talking remedies here, I’m talking prevention.
No 1: Wash your Hands
Cold and flu viruses spread fast. Our children go to school skipping like happy newborn lambs and come back looking more like Slimer from Ghostbusters – with a cough that could cut glass. And armed with one of those sniffles… you know the one. The kind that just never, ever seems to end.
Someone sneezes into their hands then opens a door… or hands you a pencil... or shakes your hand. Ak. It may be that hours have gone by, but there you go – you’ve just been handed a cold germ all ready to unpack and make itself at home in your body if given the chance.
So, wash your hands, folks. Simple and obvious, right? Yup, it’s that simple.
No. 2: Keep away from your face!
We are always touching our faces… oh my gosh, an itch that needs to be scratched, a strand of hair in the eyes, a casual face rub or make up application… one of my daughters even has a thing about squeezing faces; my mother is Polish and it seems to be a thing to grab/squeeze/knead loved ones’ faces. The harder they squeeze, the more affection they are giving you.
Become aware of how often you touch your face – I bet it’s more than you think. Germs sneak in through all those handy holes in our faces: eyes, nose, mouth… and by touching our faces we have the perfect way to transport those germs inside our bodies. Lovely.
No.3: Don’t sneeze or cough into your hands
WHAT? Isn’t that precisely what we’ve been told to do? What are we meant to do?? Sneeze into peoples' *faces*? What’s all that about, George?
No, please don’t sneeze into peoples' faces. That’s not very friendly. But instead of your hands, how about a tissue you can dispose of? (it’s great if you have a log burner to hand but a rather large investment just to burn tissues in) or even your elbow, if you’re desperate? (I’m just thinking that you’re less likely to open a door with your elbow). As a last resort you could flee the company of others and sneeze into a field or perhaps wear a paper bag over your head.
Okay, so I can see some issues with these last two suggestions, but you get my point. I appreciate that this isn’t so much about prevention for ourselves as it is prevention of spreading our nasties – but it links to the first points, so I’m including it here.
No.4: Reduce your alcohol intake
I’ll say this bit quickly to reduce the impact, but booze weakens our immune system, so the more you drink, the more open you’re leaving yourself to all those germs and infections. It also dehydrates the body, which isn’t great. But before you pen me those death threats – I’m saying reduce your intake, that’s all. That glass of red wine will probably not give you a cold (unless it’s being offered to you by a friend who has just sneezed into their hands… just sayin’).
No 5: Eat your greens (and reds and yellows)
Help keep your immune system super fit by eating lots of fresh crunchy veggies and fruit. They contain vitamins to help keep your mind and body strong, alert and functioning through this chilly season. Especially good for the immune system is zinc, which can be found in green leafy veggies, seeds and almonds (okay, so these are more brownish but that doesn’t sound as catchy and 'eat your browns' is just weird).
If you’re interested in learning more about which foods contain all the essential vitamins and minerals, there is an amazing chart we have in our kitchen. It’s totally vegan-friendly, absolutely gorgeous and available from www.lizcookcharts.co.uk – or you could come and take a photo of ours if you want.
No 6: Become a non-smoker
A bit obvious I know, but it has to be said. Smokers are way more prone to colds and illness, and even being around smoke can reduce your chances of remaining bug-free. It weakens the immune system and damages those teeny weeny hairs (cilia) in your nose, throat and lungs that generally help protect you from nasties entering the body. Every cigarette puffed stops them working for up to an hour, leaving those germs free to stroll in and make themselves at home.
If you’re interested in becoming a non-smoker, perhaps take a look at the session I offer. Details can be found here.
No 7: Do more exercise (or start now!)
Anything that makes you a little out of breath (sadly even hoovering counts… urgh) really gets the blood pumping and this in turn boosts the immune system. It even increases the number of cells in your body that kill off viruses, so it really is worth popping on those old trainers and heading out the door. Whatever takes your fancy is good, but being outdoors is super-charged with fresh oxygen (and there’ll be fewer germs floating about). If you fancy getting out and about as part of a friendly social group, then I couldn’t recommend Parkrun enough.
Parkrun is a collection of 5k running events that take place every Saturday morning in twenty countries across 5 continents. Five kilometres may feel like a long way to begin with but you don’t have to run it… you can jog, hike, skip or wander. You can take the buggy, the dog, the kids… it is so much fun that you may not even realise you’re getting fit (no, really!). And because there are so many of them, there is bound to be one near you… www.parkrun.org.uk
But even if that isn’t your thing, find some stairs and go up and down them 10 times. Do it now, I dare you.
No. 8: Relax
A stressed-out mind and body leave you open to bugs and it makes sense really, doesn’t it? How often have you been run down, exhausted or anxious and then, whallop... the coughing begins. My kryptonite is sleep-deprivation; it only takes a few nights of crap sleep for me to start sounding like I’m gargling frogs.
I wrote an article back in the summer called ‘Healthy Sleep, Healthy You’ and it may be of interest to you. The kids and I have been applying lots of the ideas gathered and I’ve got to be honest, it’s been great. My two favourites have been the addition of plants all round our house (apart from the lavender that Digby managed to kill off they are all doing brilliantly, somehow) and the introduction of a diffuser. Have a look and see what you think here.
Aside from sleep, there is plenty of evidence to suggest that a calm, positive outlook also leads to a much healthier life and as a clinical hypnotherapist I can absolutely vouch for this. Your immune system is stronger when you feel emotionally more stable and a negative outlook just seems to draw illness towards us like a magnet. Hypnotherapy helps you relax, make changes, rebalance, refocus and build your bug-busting defences and if you’d like to chat about coming for a session, then you know where to find me. Alternatively, I’ve got a few cracking recordings that are already helping kids and adults relax. They are available to buy here: www.wellbeinghypno.com/store
…and lastly
No. 9: Avoid all small children
If you have any, hide from them until April.