It’s the holidays, and we all know what that means: it’s cold, it’s stressful and illness is in the air. Whether you’re traveling, filling out reports in the office or working hard at an event, it’s easy to catch something if you’re not being careful. Flu shots can’t protect you from the annoyance of a lingering common cold. So, if you’re working hard this winter, you might want to take extra precautions. Here are some tips on how to survive the season with your health intact.
Wash Your Hands
It can’t be said enough—wash those hands! Shaking hands at meetings, turning doorknobs covered in germs, touching objects hundreds of others have also touched and then eating or rubbing your face is a recipe for disaster. Before you think of eating that hors d’oeuvre or itching your nose, find a sink and scrub for twenty seconds. Make sure to get under your fingernails, too. If you can’t locate a sink, carry hand sanitizer at all times.
Related: Getting Sick While Traveling No Longer Has to Be a Nightmare
Carry Your Medical History in an App
If you’re allergic to something, require treatment, have had past procedures or need access to a list of prescriptions, consider downloading Backpack Health. You can store all of your information in one convenient location for instant access—perfect if you experience symptoms while traveling. Just write them in the app and bring them up at your next appointment.
Avoid Airborne Illnesses
More: Avoid Airborne Ailments
You might look paranoid, but those seats aren’t washed. Bring some wipes along and, at the very least, wipe down the seatbelt, tray table, arms and TVs—all things people touch repeatedly throughout the flight. If you can, snag a window seat—this way, sick passengers aren’t touching your seat as they walk by—and wipe the window, too. Avoid accepting a blanket that isn’t held in plastic wrap, because those are most likely being reused from the past flight—if not multiple flights.
If Possible, Encourage Employees to Work From Home
Deadlines can lead sick employees to feel as though they can’t take a day away from the office. If possible, allow them to work from home. The last thing you need is half of your staff getting sick because one colleague came in with what was “only” a cough. If working remotely isn’t an option, make sure you emphasize that taking sick days is important, especially when the rest of the office is trying to stay healthy.
