The holiday season is here, and even though it may look a little different this year we want you to remain safe. We know holiday gatherings with family and friends are fun, but these can increase the chances of getting or spreading COVID-19 or the flu.
Touchette Regional Hospital wants you to understand the importance of staying healthy during the holidays and since tis the season of giving, we are giving you some tips on how to stay healthy during the holidays.
Keep your immune system up
You want to spread holiday cheer during the holiday season, not the flu or COVID-19. We suggest getting a flu shot for you and your family and staying up-to-date on vaccinations to help prevent you from getting sick during the holidays. Although flu shots fight the flu, be mindful that other things can still breakdown your immune system. We advise you to wash your hands more often, especially since viruses spread through close contact with others, and it can be hard to recognize who is sick and who isn’t sometimes. Lastly, we suggest you bundle up when going outside. How well you tackle the weather can play a role in maintaining a strong immune system this holiday season.
Practice healthy eating habits
Holiday food is something some of us wait all year for because it’s only served during the holiday season. However, that doesn’t mean you have to completely break your healthy eating habits to enjoy it. We encourage you to be mindful and utilize portion control. When eating mindfully, you acknowledge when you are full and stop eating rather than overeating. Eating healthy doesn’t mean you can’t eat your favorite holiday food, it just means you have to eat healthy portions. Portion control allows you to enjoy your favorite food and maintain a healthy diet at the same time.
Manage stress
Although the holidays are a very cheerful time, they can be considered a very stressful time. Juggling schedules with holiday festivities, shopping, and COVID-19 on top of everyday obligations can stack up fast. We suggest lowering your stress this holiday season by exercising for at least 15 minutes a day. Exercise allows you to relieve stress. Another thing to consider when handling the stress of the holidays is your sleep schedule. We recommend getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night. It’s not only suggested during the holiday season, but a practice you should try to keep up all year round.
Wishing you a safe and healthy holiday season!
At Touchette Regional Hospital, our compassionate medical staff is available when you need us. We encourage you to incorporate healthy tips into your daily activities. And if you find that you need our services to help get you on the right track we’re here to help. To learn more about our staff and our services, please check out our website: www.touchette.org.