Our health is by far the most important thing we need to take care of. However, if you have a family you look after, you’ll know that their health is usually more prioritized over yours. That is a completely normal and logical thing – we always put the people we love in the first place. If you’re looking for ways to keep your family and yourself happy and healthy, you’re in the right place. All you need to do is to see some of these easy-to-follow tips which will keep your hygiene at the top of its game and it will keep all of you safe from germs all year long.
Wash your hands
Even though this simple advice seems obvious, it doesn’t hurt to mention it once more. Washing your hands is essential in good hygiene practices. Germs can spread incredibly fast, and washing your hands regularly is one of the safest ways to prevent this from happening. However, it’s not just important when you wash your hands – you also need to know how to wash them properly.
As far as the key times for washing the hands are concerned, you must do it before eating, after eating, after petting the animals, sneezing, coughing, or going to the bathroom. If you have very young children, you must remind them to wash their hands even when they end up playing or before going to the playroom. As for the technique, make sure that all of you wash your hands for at least 15 seconds thoroughly.
Use tissues properly
Once it gets colder, it’s almost impossible not to catch a cold. However, there are a ton of things you can do to try and prevent this. One of the things people do wrong is leaving their used tissues lying around the home.
The next time you see your kid blowing his or her nose, make sure to teach them how to properly dispose of the used tissue. If you take into account the fact that some of the viruses and bacteria can live for over two hours outside the body, you’ll realize why it is essential to get rid of the tissues right away.
Attack allergens
Allergens are usually the reason why we all keep sneezing when inside. If everyone in your home has issues with allergies or even asthma, you should make sure to deal with these allergens properly and on time before they start causing havoc in your home.
The most common allergens are dust mites, pet dander, and mould. To get rid of them, make sure to vacuum the house regularly. You should also change the sheets and pillowcases as often as it is possible and you could wash the stuffed animals often as well. If your child has pet allergies, you can always keep the pet in a separate room and at a safe distance.
Clean the kitchen regularly
Cleaning is the key practice when it comes to keeping your family’s health flawless. While foodborne illness may not be dangerous for adults and older kids, it can get very serious in the cases of babies and toddlers. For this reason, you’ll have to be extra careful when it comes to preparing the food.
You should also clean the kitchen often. Make sure that the countertops and cabinet handles are always perfectly wiped out. If you don’t have the time to do this as often, end of lease cleaning is a simple solution that could help you solve this problem. You’ll be sure that your kitchen is thoroughly cleaned and you’ll have the time to finish your chores or be with your family.
Eat healthily
Speaking of the kitchen, it’s worth mentioning that what you eat is very important for your health. A nutritious diet is always important, but it’s even more so in the time of colds and viruses. Your kids should eat food rich in vitamins A, C, and D.
These vitamins are there to help your kids stay healthy and grow and develop properly. You should include as many fruits and veggies as possible into the kids’ diet. Make sure to think of some good fat sources, such as fish, seed, and nuts. All of these foods will strengthen your kids’ health.
After every meal, remind your kiddo to brush their teeth, since this is a very important part of our oral hygiene.
Stay hydrated
Food is important, but it’s worthless in keeping you healthy if you don’t drink enough water as well. Your body needs water to function properly and the same goes for your kids as well. Make sure to teach them about healthy consumption of water by providing them with the right example.
If you’re a coffee-lover, you may have to think twice about your coffee consumption habits. It may be the best choice to swap coffee for some fruit teas, as these are much more beneficial for your health. For kids, you should avoid giving them full of sugar and acidity fruit juices and look for some no added sugar alternatives.
Stock up on medicines
Another way to keep everyone in the household healthy is by having some medication stocked up. Every household should have a medicine cabinet, just in case. That way, you’ll be prepared to react on time, even when a simple cold shows up in your home.
Some basics are paracetamol and ibuprofen, but you could also get some cold remedies and decongestants. This is a perfect strategy in case someone falls ill unexpectedly in the house, but you should make sure that the medicines are out of reach from the kids and that they are safely locked away.
Sleep a lot
If you’ve thought that staying up all night for a whole week can end up with you being healthy and ready to take on your daily challenges, you couldn’t be more wrong. Sleep is very important for your health and sanity and you should never undermine its significance. Instead, you should try and get as much rest as possible each night.
To boost your immune system, make sure to sleep for at least 8 hours a night. Try your best to teach your kids the significance of sleep as well. Don’t let them use their phones or computers right before they go to bed and help them create a good bedtime routine.
Be active
Finally, stay active to stay healthy. Sitting around for days can worsen your health in many different ways. On the other hand, going by foot to the store or taking the stairs instead of the elevator can make you stronger and more resilient. You should also start an exercise routine (if you don’t already have one).
If your kids prefer playing computer games to running around outside with their friends, you may need to look for some ways to motivate them to start moving around more. You could get some bikes for the whole family and use this as a perfect way to bond with your family, help them stay active, and improve their immune system and overall health.
Conclusion
Staying healthy may seem easy, but it often isn’t. There are a lot of triggers around us that can make us sick and keeping track of them all can get tiring. On the other hand, if you follow these tips, you’ll manage to keep your family’s health intact.