These colder months are still with us and are a time we’re more likely to catch viral infections (colds, influenza or COVID19).  Did you know that children can get between 5 and 10 colds a year, while adults can get 2 to 4 colds each year. This is such an important time to take extra care of ourselves and our families.

Keeping our immune systems strong can help prevent catching colds and the flu. So, what can we do to help our immune system?  Here are some suggestions:

• Healthy Diet: Eating a varied, nutritious diet is a great way to help our bodies stay well. Remember to include 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit. Broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower are great winter vegetables, and oranges, mandarins, and kiwi fruit are in season over winter. These are all great natural sources of vitamin C!
• Exercise: this can be admittedly harder during the winter months but is important to maintain our activity as best as we can! Get outside whenever you can (rug up well if it’s cold!) Be creative with indoor exercise – borrow exercise DVDs from your local library and try something new. Dance-offs are fun – get a little bit silly, get your heart rate up, and prepare to laugh a lot!  See if the kids have any new, original ideas for indoor exercise!
• Managing stress: Find time to do activities you love and that helps you to relax. Try mindfulness meditations – Smiling Mind is a great app that has lots of meditations/mindfulness ideas to help reduce stress and worries, relax your mind, and improve your resilience.
• Sleep: make sure you’re getting enough sleep, as lack of sleep can affect our immune systems.  Sticking to a regular sleep routine—even on weekends—maintains the timing of the body's internal clock and can help you fall asleep and wake up more easily.
• Keep warm: Wear layers of clothing. (We all know how easy it is to get caught out in Tasmania!)  Keep curtains drawn and doors closed to block draughts. Have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day. This is especially important for people with heart or respiratory problems such as asthma.
• Hand washing: This is something that is so important to do, and to continue to teach our children to do. Hand washing is one of the BEST and EASIEST ways to avoid becoming sick.

Keep well, and stay warm!

Nurse Lisa