Simple Ways to Prepare for Cold and Flu Season

This conversation is sponsored by Vick’s available at Walmart.  All opinions are my own.

I’m currently writing this while sucking on a Vick’s Vapodrop, a box of lotion tissues at my side and a glass of water handy for me to sip.

Cold and flu season arrived early for us this year and it hit with a vengeance.  Five out of six of us have succumbed so far, with me seeming to have gotten it the worst. I can’t remember when I’ve last had a cold that made me feel this miserable and that has hung on this long.  

I’m just grateful that we’re dealing with this now instead of over the holidays.  Because ain’t nobody got time for being sick then! 

But that got me thinking that I should share my favorite simple tips with you all for staying healthy and preparing for cold and flu season.  That way we can hopefully all enjoy the holidays as much as possible!    

Simple Ways to Prepare for Cold and Flu Season

WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY
Did you know that flu viruses are mainly spread by droplets of saliva when infected people cough, sneeze or talk?  And of course, if they blow their nose or wipe their eyes and then touch something, the germs are left behind too.  Then when you touch something that has those left behind germs on it and touch your eyes, nose or mouth, you very quickly can infect yourself!

So obviously, washing your hands often is one of your best defenses!  Wash up especially before meals, before food prep and after coming home from being with lots of people.

Side note: avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible also helps keep you from getting the viruses and bacteria into your system.

DISINFECT
I don’t consider myself a germaphobe at all, and I’m usually pretty chill about germ related things.  But in the winter, I do become a lot more careful- especially since I’ve become a mom.

I like to wipe down doorknobs and other frequently touched surfaces regularly.  And if I’m at a grocery store that offers sanitizing wipes at the entrance, I always take a minute to wipe down my grocery cart too!  Keeping hand sanitizer handy is a good idea as well.

GET PLENTY OF VITAMIN C & E
These two vitamins are important because they have been proven to help boost your immune system.  Vitamin C can be fairly easy to get through diet in things like citrus, sweet potatoes, cauliflower and peppers.  But vitamin E can be a bit trickier.

The thing is, even if you are eating a lot of foods rich in vitamin C and E, you still likely could use more.  It’s a good idea to take additional Vitamin C and E supplements in the winter to try to keep your immune system as healthy as possible!

GET YOUR SLEEP
I tend to be a night owl and love staying up late.  But research has shown that getting a good night’s sleep actually boosts our immune system and helps us stay healthier.  I know I definitely feel my best if I get around 8 hours a night and if I’m fighting a cold or the flu, I try to make resting and sleeping a lot top priority!

KEEP A STOCKED PANTRY/FREEZER
When you’re feeling under the weather or are busy taking care of sick kids, it’s not always easy to find the time to make a decent meal.  In fact, it’s often difficult to even run to the grocery store!

One of the things that has been a lifesaver for me is to always keep some simple pre-made meals on hand.  I love having several store bought pizzas in the freezer, a few cans of soup and jars of applesauce in the pantry and a couple of homemade freezer meals to fall back on when sickness hits!

STOCK YOUR MEDICINE CABINET
I’m not quick to take medication, but sometimes you just get to the point where you are desperate for something to help you get through the day or night without feeling so miserable!

Unfortunately, we’ve had a number of experiences where we’ve hit that desperate state but were stuck because it was the middle of the night, the kids were too sick to take out, or my husband was at work with the vehicle etc.  And that’s no fun!

A couple of years ago, I finally got smart and started stocking up on a few basic over the counter cold and flu medications.  It’s so nice to be able to go the medicine cabinet and find relief right away!  

LOOKING TO STOCK UP ON COLD AND FLU RELIEVERS?
Right now you can save on Vicks products at Walmart!  In fact, you can even keep things super easy and use Walmart’s Online Grocery Pickup.  Just place your order online at grocery.walmart.com, select your pickup time and then your order is brought to your car when you arrive.  How’s that for a holiday blessing!

Here are the current savings available:

• $1 off any Vicks product at Walmart (except drops, Sinex, and ZzQuil) – BrandSAVER coupon from the 11/25 newspaper
• $1 off Vicks Nyquil at Walmart – iBotta offer
• $0.75 off Vicks VapoDrops at Walmart – iBotta Offer
• Bonus $1.25 rebate when you use both iBotta offers

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Vicks. The opinions and text are all mine.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR COLD AND FLU SEASON?