How to Strengthen Self-Care for Flu Season

Sniffles, coughs, a pile of handkerchiefs, joint pain, headaches, high fevers… This is just part of what we think of when it comes to the flu season. When you were a kid, the flu meant not having to go to school so you almost looked forward to getting sick.

As an adult, it’s uncomfortable and impractical because there are things you need to get done even if you miss work for a few days. So, what do you do to prevent getting the flu? You wash your hands and you cover coughs – that’s what most people think they need to do. That’s a good way to start, but it’s by no means enough.

This article will tell you all you need to know about preventing flu, wherever you are – at home, at work, in a doctor’s office, or on another planet.

The Basics of Preventing the Flu

The basics almost come down to common sense. Basically, eat nutritious food, drink enough water, get 8 hours of sleep, and try to control your stress levels.

These few things won’t just help with flu prevention, they’ll generally make you a healthier, happier person. Your immune system will be stronger and it will be easier for it to fight off viruses.

As far as what to do to prevent flu specifically, in addition to all this, you should wash your hands frequently and sanitize all surfaces. Flu often spreads through contact, so this can be a frontline defense for you in spaces you share with other people, like work, public transportation, and even at home if you don’t live by yourself.

And then there’s flu vaccination, which plays a huge part in preventing flu because it significantly reduces the spread of the virus. The more people that get vaccinated, the healthier we all are. Getting vaccinated is especially important if you work in healthcare, and it goes for both staff and patients.

Facilities with lower flu vaccination rates for patients (whether that’s a hospital, hospice, or even a nursing home) are at much higher risk because they don’t have the community immunity that can curb outbreaks.

The best way to stay safe? Try to do as many of the things mentioned in this section as possible and you’ll reduce the risk of getting the flu by a lot.

Self-Care in Public and Private Spaces

Now let’s get more specific and see what to do to prevent the flu according to the space you’re in.

One – Healthcare Facilities

A healthcare facility is full of sick people, so you’re probably worried about even setting foot there during the flu season.

The good thing about them is that they all gave specific standards for preventing flu, like vaccination and extreme hygiene measures. Healthcare workers are usually vaccinated to reduce the spread of infections, which makes the patients safer and there’s less chance of an outbreak that way.

Frequent cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces is another way healthcare facilities protect both their patients and the staff.

Two – Public Spaces

Public spaces are the most problematic because the regulations for preventing the flu are flimsy at best.

This is why you should wear a surgical mask, keep a distance from other people, and wash your hands really frequently to lower the risk of catching flu. These are high-traffic places, a lot of people go in and out.

Some of them might be vaccinated, others might not be; there are ones that try to prevent the flu, others might sneeze directly into other people’s faces. You never know.

Three – At Home

This is a space you control, so keeping the flu at bay might be easier. Clean all your surfaces on a regular basis and make sure there’s fresh air circulating throughout all rooms.

Another thing that most people don’t think about too much – take off your shoes before coming in. Leave them in your hallway, maybe even spray some disinfectant on the soles.

Of course, wash your hands as soon as you come inside and, if you don’t leave by yourself, encourage other members of your household to do the same.

Conclusion

Getting the flu is not the end of the world, but why risk it if there’s a way to avoid it? Of course, none of the techniques (if we can call them that) are bulletproof, but they’re all tried-and-true methods that can do a great job at preventing it.

Vaccination is probably the easiest, most effective way to prevent the flu, and not only will it prevent you from getting it, you’ll contribute to preventing the outbreak.

Not all people like the idea of vaccination, and there are some that can’t get vaccinated even though they’d like to, so if you fall into either of these groups, follow a few simple rules – maintain social distance, wash your hands frequently, and wear a mask when you’re out and about.