Centsible Life

Helping Women Live Healthier, Happier, and Wealthier

  • Home
  • All Posts
  • About
    • Disclosure
    • Press
    • Privacy Policy
  • Health
  • Money
    • Make Money from Home
    • What To Buy Series
  • Fashion
    • Beauty
  • Food
    • Menu Plans
    • Recipes
  • Personal Posts
  • Travel
  • Work With Me

Tips to stay healthy this winter with Vicks

January 20, 2015 By Kelly Leave a Comment

Disclosure: This is a paid, sponsored post brought to you by Vicks. All opinions are my own.

Winter is in full force in the Northeast and with it freezing temperatures, ice, snow, and of course lots of colds and flus being passed around. According to the CDC, cold and flu incidence is spiking right now in Pennsylvania. We’ve already had a cold this January and I’m crossing my fingers we can get through the rest of the winter unscathed.

Fortunately, I’ve partnered with Vicks to share tips to help you and your whole family stay healthy this winter.

15 Tips to Avoid and Fight the Cold and Flu

My Tips for Avoiding & Fighting the Cold & Flu

1. Wash your hands.

I’m always washing my hands and having the kids wash up. It’s key to staying well during winter. I have even gone so far as to inspect their hands after they’re done!

2. Wipe down surfaces.

Surfaces are totally gross. We may think that the bathroom surfaces are the worst but doorknobs, cell phones, and remotes are far germier. (don’t google it, just trust me). Wiping them down regularly is important.

3. Eat healthy foods.

Eat superfoods and foods that are high in vitamin C. We eat a ton of oranges and citrus fruits all winter long.

4. Exercise.

Exercise is good for you in so many ways, but can also help you fight off the cold and flu by improving your immune system.

5. Keep soup on hand in the freezer or pantry.

It’s helpful to have on hand and you can prepare your own chicken broth really simply. Store it in the freezer and defrost it when someone gets ill. Vegans and vegetarians can stock up on miso.

6. Prepare a sick box for when you’re under the weather.

Having creature comforts at hand for when you get sick will make getting better easier. In your box or basket you can include a fun novel, crossword puzzles, tissues, and a few comedy DVDs. Laughter is great medicine.

7. Prepare a sick box for the kids, too.

Kids can benefit from a sick box or basket as well. not only will it keep them occupied when they need to rest, but it will make getting well more fun. For younger kids include a new DVD, crayons and a pad of paper, tissues, and a cuddly stuffed animal. For older kids you can include an app store gift card to keep them busy with a new game or movie rental, a fun chapter book or YA novel, tissues, cough drops, and warm socks.

8. Use over the counter products when you need to.

Vicks DayQuil Severe and NyQuil Severe provide relief for your worst cold symptoms helping you power through your days and get the rest you need at night. They are helpful to power through your day when you can’t take off your mom or dad cap or you need to wrap up your work. No other nighttime or non-drowsy medicine relieves more cold/flu symptoms than NyQuil Severe among OTC cold & flu medicines.

Vicks is also working with Nurse Barb Dehn, Registered Nurse Practitioner, who shares her tips on how to spot and treat symptoms of the flu and tips on how to stay healthy throughout flu season.

Nurse Barb’s Tips

9. Avoid germs at work (or school).

Watch out for these germ-ridden places at the office:

  • the sink in the break room
  • the office microwave
  • doorknobs

10. Say ‘no’ to stress.

Stress can influence the symptoms of cold, cough and flu by interfering with how the immune system functions. To keep your immune system strong, make sure to get plenty of rest and sleep all the time, not just when you’re sick.

11. Sleep on a schedule.

Go to bed and wake up on a regular schedule. Plus, avoid stimulating beverages like caffeinated coffee or alcohol before going to sleep, as well as bright light from the screens on your phone, TV or other electronic devices.

12. Know the signs.

You are most contagious in the first 24 hours when your symptoms are at their worst. If you have two or more of these symptoms, stay home to rest:

  • fever over 101º F
  • cough
  • sore throat
  • running nose
  • headache
  • body aches
  • chills
  • fatigue

13. Try tea.

Drinking an herbal tea such as chamomile, passionflower or other soothing teas before bed can help you relax while also getting helpful fluids into your system.

14. Elevate the head of the bed.

Place a pillow under your mattress to raise the upper body from the waist up. This allows blood to flow away from the head and reduce inflammation of the air passages. Using extra pillows can also ease body aches by taking the pressure off hips, knees and back.

15. Take a hot shower before bed.

Steam and humidity can cause sinuses to drain and relieve stuffiness from a cold. It can also help you to relax, and ease chills, aches and fatigue. Put your towel and/or bathrobe in the dryer so that you don’t feel chilled when you get out, and make sure the room is nice and warm.

What advice do you have for avoiding colds and the flu?

Kelly

About Kelly


Kelly Whalen is the founder and editor of the Centsible Life. She started the blog in 2008 as her family faced a mountain of debt and the fixer upper they purchased became a FIXER UPPER. The website was born out of her desire to share what was working (and what was not) on her family's journey to financial security. Kelly lives in Minneapolis with her family.

  • View all posts by Kelly →
  • Blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+

Share:

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • Print

Related

Filed Under: Health, Sponsored Tagged With: cold and flu, Health, Sponsored, tips to stay healthy, vicks, wellness


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Pinterest
INSTAGRAM
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Follow by Email
RSS

Hi! I'm Kelly Whalen, writer, frugality expert, debt slayer, and money nerd. Welcome to the Centsible Life, my corner of the internet, where I help women live happier, healthier, and wealthier lives. My goal is to help you save time + money, so you can spend both how you want.

Want to know more about me and learn how Centsible Life has helped readers like you? Click here.

As seen on:

Top Posts & Pages

  • Spray Paint Closet Door Makeover for $21
    Spray Paint Closet Door Makeover for $21
  • Free Printable Game Day Paper Chain
    Free Printable Game Day Paper Chain
  • LEGO Friendship Bracelets
    LEGO Friendship Bracelets
  • 50 Activities For Kids When There Is No School
    50 Activities For Kids When There Is No School
  • How to Update Railings and Spindles on Stairs
    How to Update Railings and Spindles on Stairs
  • 365 Day Meal Plan with Free Templates & Grocery List
    365 Day Meal Plan with Free Templates & Grocery List
  • Chores & Allowances
    Chores & Allowances
  • 13 Money-Saving Tips Infographic
    13 Money-Saving Tips Infographic
  • How to Clean your Dental Appliances with Fresh Guard™
    How to Clean your Dental Appliances with Fresh Guard™
  • Sleepaway Camp Tips and Packing List
    Sleepaway Camp Tips and Packing List

Archives

Categories

Copyright © 2022 ·Metro Pro Theme · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...
 

    loading Cancel
    Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
    Email check failed, please try again
    Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.