Videos from Brookville Family Care

Some simple steps that you can take to reduce your risk of becoming sick during the holiday season include getting the flu vaccine, good hand washing and proper, safe food preparation. Flu vaccine is recommended for all adults and children over the age of six months. Good hand hygiene is essential in preventing the spread of bacterial and viral illnesses such as the common cold. Be sure to wash your hands with soap under running water for at least 20 seconds. In regards to food preparation, be sure to do simple things to prevent the risk of food poisoning and bacterial illness. Wash your fruits and vegetables, use cooking thermometers and cook meats to proper temperatures and don’t cross contaminate your foods; keep raw meats away from other foods and be sure to wash cutting boards, utensils and counter tops with hot soapy water. Always remember to refrigerate perishable foods within two hours after they’ve been out.

Rest and proper hygiene are very key to keeping someone healthy during the holiday season. Hand washing is important at preventing the spread of illnesses. The winter season is peak time for influenza and other viral illnesses like the common cold and the easiest thing you can do to prevent the spread of these diseases and viruses is to wash your hands frequently. Proper rest which for most people is an average seven to eight hours of sleep per night is critical for your overall health and wellbeing throughout the year. It is especially important during times of high stress like the holiday season. Lack of sleep can leave you feeling rundown, compromise your body’s immune system and make you more irritable.

Be sure to keep moving. Physical activity is a step you can take to benefit your health during the holidays any time of the year. Some simple ideas for staying active this holiday season include parking your car further away from the entrance and taking the steps instead of elevator while doing your holiday shopping. It’s also important to schedule time to exercise, make it a part of your daily routine. Try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week. If you choose to drink alcohol this holiday season, do so in moderation. One idea to decrease the amount of alcohol you drink would be to alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. If you find it difficult to stop once you’ve started drinking, then go to the party with a plan to stick to non-alcoholic drinks the whole time. Don’t forget to always use a designated driver. In regard to eating during the holiday, you don’t have to go without your favorite holiday treats but try to be mindful of the amount you are eating. Try to eat healthy foods before going to the party so when you are at the party you will be less likely to overindulge on all the less-healthy food options that are found at typical holiday gatherings.

Holiday stressors come in all shapes and sizes. Some examples include family members who put you on edge, too much to do in too little time and worrying about over eating and gaining weight. To handle your holiday stressors ask yourself what makes you feel the most pressure or the most irritable. Then think about what choices you have and how you can make the stress more manageable. Consider declining the invitation to the holiday gathering you no longer enjoy. Consider not baking all those cookies you used to make. It’s always best to be prepared. Don’t procrastinate, get your holiday shopping started early and be sure to get plenty of rest and hopefully you be able to enjoy your time with family and friends this holiday season.