Surprising predictions part 4

 Staying Healthy at Work: How to Avoid Getting Sick

Staying healthy at work can be tough if you work in close quarters with your coworkers and spend much of your day indoors. Fortunately, it’s easy to stay well and avoid the common cold or flu by following these simple tips for how to keep sick days from putting you behind on work. Just follow these six steps and you’ll be avoiding sick days in no time!

Staying Healthy

Even if you are a healthy person, that doesn’t mean you won’t be exposed to germs when you go into work. When there is more than one person in an office, it can be hard to keep from catching each other’s colds and viruses. An easy way to avoid getting sick is by washing your hands often throughout the day. In order for your hands to stay clean for longer periods of time, make sure that there is an ample supply of hand sanitizer available in every bathroom and kitchen area of your office building. 

This will make cleaning up after coming in contact with germs much easier. Another great way to prevent sickness is by drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Water helps flush out toxins that may have accumulated on your skin or inside your body during normal activities such as working or eating. Staying hydrated also helps fight off common illnesses like allergies and headaches. If you have trouble remembering to drink enough water, try setting a timer on your phone or computer so that you get reminders throughout the day. By staying hydrated, you can reduce many common symptoms associated with being sick including fatigue and headaches. If you do end up feeling ill, don’t forget to ask your employer about any paid sick days that you might be eligible for.

 Many employers offer their employees paid sick days so they can take care of themselves without worrying about losing paychecks. Most employers require documentation from a doctor stating that you were indeed ill before they will approve paid leave. If possible, try not to schedule important meetings or presentations while you are still recovering from illness as it could hinder your performance and cause others to get sick too. You should always let people know if you aren't feeling well so they don't think something is wrong with them too! The best thing to do when fighting off illness is rest and eat right! Try to maintain a balanced diet full of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. These foods contain essential vitamins and minerals that help boost your immune system when you're sick. 

Eat smaller meals throughout the day instead of large ones because digestion takes energy away from your immune system which needs all its strength to fight off infections. It's also important to get lots of sleep while you're ill because sleeping allows your body's natural healing process to kick in. It's best not to schedule anything stressful or difficult until you feel better because stress can weaken your immune system even further. As long as you follow these tips, hopefully they'll help keep you healthy while at work! Good luck and see you next week. 1. Skip the sugar – Sugar makes our hunger cravings fluctuate quickly, meaning we end up consuming even more calories over the course of the day. If you’re trying to lose weight, it’s a good idea to monitor your intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates, as you might be surprised to learn just how easy it is for calories to sneak into treats. For example, a glass of juice or sweetened coffee could bump your overall calorie intake by as much as 800 calories. 

To lose weight safely but quickly, switch to a sugar-free diet. 2. Drink more water – Drinking water is a good way to keep your immune system strong. If you’re dehydrated, your body can’t fight off germs as easily. So make it a point to drink at least eight glasses of water per day. You can also try adding some lemon or lime to your water for added flavor and health benefits. 3. Get enough sleep – Make sure you get at least seven hours of sleep per night so that your immune system stays strong and healthy! 4. Stay active – Exercising is another way to keep your immune system strong so that you can stay healthy while at work! 5. Maintain a healthy diet – Eating a balanced, nutritious diet is another way to keep your immune system strong. Try to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, along with lean protein sources, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. 6. Keep your hands clean – Germs are everywhere! Wash your hands frequently throughout the day to keep yourself from spreading germs and getting sick. 

7. Practice proper hygiene – Always make sure you wash your hands after using the restroom or sneezing/coughing into your hands. 8. Don't touch your face – Always try not to touch areas of your face (nose, mouth) because it's easy for germs on those areas to spread to the rest of your body! 9. Get vaccinated – If you can, get vaccinated for the flu and other common diseases. 10. Take your vitamins – Taking a daily multivitamin is another way to keep your immune system strong.

 11. Seek medical attention if you are sick – If you're sick, make sure to tell your boss so that they can help you get the rest and treatment that you need! 12. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth – Always try not to touch areas of your face because it's easy for germs on those areas to spread to the rest of your body! 13. Clean surfaces with disinfectant wipes – Use disinfectant wipes on commonly touched surfaces in the office like phones, keyboards, mouse pads, etc., especially if someone has been sick recently! 14.

Stay Hydrated

Most people don’t drink enough water, which can make you feel sluggish and run down. Make sure you’re drinking enough—at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day—and hydrating throughout your workday. Water helps fight fatigue and keep your immune system strong. Also, be aware of other drinks that may dehydrate you—coffee, soda, alcohol and juice all make it harder for your body to stay hydrated. If you do indulge in one of these beverages, be sure to drink plenty of water afterward. It’s a good idea to carry a bottle of water with you wherever you go during your workday. 

Just remember not to overdo it; too much water (or any liquid) can lead to an electrolyte imbalance in your body and cause health problems like hyponatremia (which is especially dangerous if combined with exercise). The bottom line? Aim to drink enough water so that you never feel thirsty or uncomfortably full. And when you need more than plain old H2O, try infusing your water with lemon or cucumber slices. Not only will they add flavor, but they’ll also provide added nutrients as well! 

Hydration isn’t just about keeping you from getting sick though; staying properly hydrated can help improve your mood, boost energy levels and increase productivity at work. In fact, some studies have shown that dehydration actually causes headaches due to headaches being caused by blood vessel constriction— something that occurs after we lose too much fluid through perspiration or urination. 

Keeping adequately hydrated can actually stop headaches before they start! Also, if you do get sick during flu season (or any other time of year), drinking plenty of water will help flush out toxins and keep your body healthy. It may not be a cure-all for every ailment, but it’s certainly worth trying! And while many people associate colds with winter weather, those nasty viruses are still going around in summertime.

 So don’t let up on hydrating just because it's warm outside—the hotter temperatures only make us sweat more! If you're feeling under the weather, drink as much water as possible until you feel better. You'll probably also want to consider taking an over-the-counter medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce fever and aches and pains. As always, consult your doctor if symptoms persist for longer than a few days or worsen significantly. 

What Else Can I Do?

Get Enough Sleep

Staying well begins with staying well-rested. Aim for eight hours of sleep a night, and try not to use your bed as an office—even if you're tired, even if your computer is conveniently on your nightstand. (Seriously, do not work in bed.) Putting off sleep until tomorrow just makes tomorrow's workload harder to tackle. Better yet, treat yourself to a nap or a power break, when you close your office door and take 15 minutes (or more) completely away from work. Our bodies function best when we take regular breaks throughout our day; it's also proven that naps can increase productivity and focus by up to 20 percent! If you have trouble falling asleep at night, try keeping a journal by your bedside to help ease stress and anxiety. Writing down worries before you turn out the lights helps clear your mind so you can relax into slumber. And be sure to cut back on caffeine after lunchtime. 

Coffee may be great for jumpstarting your morning, but too much caffeine can leave you feeling jittery and anxious late in the afternoon—and could disrupt your sleep later that night. So give yourself time to de-stress each evening before turning in early.

All work & no play isn't good for anyone! Make sure you schedule fun activities during your week to keep burnout at bay. And make sure these aren't idle pursuits, either; doing something active recharges both body and brain better than spending all day watching TV or working on a hobby project. For example, a 30-minute walk outside in nature can be more rejuvenating than an hour of reading by yourself inside. Or if you love books but don't have time to read them (what with all that work and life stuff), consider listening to audiobooks instead—research shows that listening to an audiobook is just as effective as reading one for improving vocabulary and comprehension skills.

 So what are you waiting for? Schedule some me time into your calendar today! If it's been too long since you did something purely for pleasure, then go ahead and treat yourself. It'll do wonders for boosting your mood and energy levels—and help prevent those pesky sick days from piling up in the first place. We’re not saying there’s anything wrong with catching up on Netflix while sitting on your couch in sweatpants, but sometimes we need to get out of our comfort zone and experience new things. Doing so helps us grow as people and keeps us mentally sharp. Think about it: Would you rather spend an afternoon cooking a new recipe or ordering takeout? We thought so. 

That’s why we recommend scheduling something social—whether that means hitting up happy hour with co-workers after work or taking a friend out for coffee—into your calendar every single week. You never know who you might meet, where you might discover new interests, or how many fresh perspectives will come from simply being open to trying new things! A healthy body also requires healthy eating habits. When you're busy at work, it can be tempting to grab whatever snacks are nearby—but eating junk food will only leave you feeling sluggish and exhausted. Instead, try snacking on nuts or dried fruit when hunger strikes. Both options provide protein, which helps keep blood sugar levels steady throughout the day so you won't feel jittery when you sit down to tackle that report due tomorrow morning.

The human mind works best when challenged regularly . . . but pushing ourselves beyond our limits often leads to failure and frustration. While learning from mistakes is important for success in any field, overworking ourselves isn't going to help us succeed faster or more efficiently in business.

Drink Fluids, Not Alcohol

Drinking fluids will help keep your hydrated, which is important for staying healthy. Fluids can include water, milk and juice, but you should avoid alcohol. In fact, one of the easiest ways to stay healthy is to simply not drink alcohol too much, if at all. While it may seem like drinking a few glasses of wine or beer every night is harmless, it’s actually quite harmful to your body in many ways. For example, frequent drinking can lead to dehydration and other health problems such as headaches and high blood pressure. If you want to enjoy yourself without hurting your health, consider taking up hobbies that don’t involve alcohol. You could join a book club, take up painting or even learn how to play an instrument. Whatever you choose, remember that moderation is key when it comes to alcohol consumption.

 When you drink heavily on a regular basis, it has negative effects on your mental and physical health. So, try to limit your intake of alcohol and stick with just one glass of wine or beer per day. Even better, try going alcohol-free for a month—you might be surprised by how much healthier you feel! And once you do decide to indulge, make sure you don’t have more than one drink per hour. Doing so could significantly slow down your metabolism and affect your ability to process information clearly. Alcohol also lowers inhibitions, making it easier for people to engage in risky behavior such as drunk driving or unprotected sex. It can also lead people into financial trouble by increasing spending and causing them to overspend on unnecessary items such as impulse purchases or items they didn’t need before getting drunk. To avoid these situations, plan ahead.

 Before heading out to a bar or party where there will be alcohol available, eat dinner and have a full glass of water before you go out. This way, you won’t get dehydrated from drinking too much alcohol too quickly. Also consider bringing your own nonalcoholic drinks to parties so that you aren’t tempted to drink from others’ cups or bottles (which could contain germs).

Take Your Vitamins

If you’re consistently not getting enough vitamins and minerals, it can cause your immune system to weaken and make you more susceptible to catching a cold or flu bug. Make sure you get adequate amounts of C, E, A, and B6 by eating fresh fruits and vegetables daily. If that’s not possible, taking multivitamins can fill in for what you’re missing out on. Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough water helps your body fight off germs that may enter through your mouth or nose when you have a cold or flu. It also helps prevent eye infections from forming after blinking profusely during allergy season. Don’t Touch Your Face: Germs are everywhere and we pick them up every day without even realizing it.

 The best way to avoid contracting an illness is to wash your hands frequently—and don’t forget about your face! You should be washing your hands before you eat and after using public restrooms, but do yourself a favor and don't touch anything else until you've washed up. This includes touching door handles, light switches, keyboards, phones—anything! Get Some Rest: There's no way around it; if you're sick with something like bronchitis or pneumonia, resting is probably going to be necessary. But even if you're feeling well enough to work while ill (which isn't recommended), staying home can help keep others from getting sick too. Remember, there's nothing wrong with asking for time off to recuperate. Take Care of Yourself: When you feel under the weather, take care of yourself by resting as much as possible and drinking plenty of fluids. Treating symptoms like congestion or fever naturally can help you recover faster too. For example, try inhaling steam from a hot shower or adding lemon juice to warm water and drinking it throughout the day. And if you want to relax your muscles after a long week at work, consider adding some lavender essential oil into your bathwater. Use Germ-Killing Hand Sanitizer: Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer with you wherever you go and use it regularly to kill germs.

 While soap will kill most germs, sanitizers offer protection against everything from salmonella to staphylococcus—bacteria that can cause serious health problems. It’s also good practice to carry disinfectant wipes so you can clean surfaces when needed. Just make sure you aren’t overusing the stuff. According to WebMD, it can irritate your skin and even contribute to other skin conditions like eczema. Keep Stress Under Control: Studies show that people who are stressed out are more likely to catch a cold or develop allergies than those who stay calm. Fortunately, keeping stress levels low is easier than you think. Exercise, meditate, and limit your caffeine intake—all of these things can contribute to lower stress levels and better overall health. Eat Well: When you’re sick, your body needs all the energy it can get to heal itself—so skip the junk food and load up on whole grains, fruits, veggies, lean meats, nuts and seeds instead.

Wash Your Hands

Not only does hand-washing keep you healthy, it can also prevent sickness from spreading around your workplace. If your workplace doesn’t have an on-site bathroom, bring a travel bottle of hand sanitizer with you and use it after you wash your hands. In addition to washing your hands before going to work and when returning from a break or other trip, be sure to clean them after using public restrooms and before touching food. Your co-workers will thank you!

A Clean Desk is a Happy Desk: Studies show that having too much clutter in our lives (including at work) makes us less productive and more prone to stress. Set aside time each day for cleaning off your desk so that you can focus better on getting things done; even just five minutes is enough time to clear away unnecessary items that are cluttering up your workspace. Also, be sure to keep all of your belongings locked up when you’re not using them—this includes computer files, confidential documents, credit cards, USB drives, phones and other devices with sensitive information. You never know who might be looking over your shoulder!

In addition to washing your hands before going to work and when returning from a break or other trip, be sure to clean them after using public restrooms and before touching food. Your co-workers will thank you! 

Bringing lunch? A little soap and water can make it taste much better: If you bring your own lunch to work (and who doesn’t?), wash your dishes regularly so that they don’t accumulate bacteria. Washing plastic containers in hot water is effective—just remember to dry them completely after washing to prevent mold from growing on any damp areas left behind. Also, be sure to store your food properly when you get home; perishable items should be refrigerated immediately and kept cold until they are ready to be eaten. And if you do have leftovers, throw out anything that’s been sitting out for more than two hours!

A Clean Desk is a Happy Desk: Studies show that having too much clutter in our lives (including at work) makes us less productive and more prone to stress.

Exercise Regularly

We all know that exercising is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, but sometimes we can get so wrapped up in work and other commitments that we forget how important it is. It’s easy to neglect your health when you are constantly pushing yourself, but if you make it a priority, you will be able to stay productive without sacrificing your health. Set aside time every day for exercise – even if it’s just a half hour walk or run during lunch – and focus on making physical activity a part of your daily routine. 

For example, turn off email notifications on your phone so that they don’t distract you while working out! Get creative with ways to keep yourself motivated. You will feel better and be more productive as a resultresultresultresultresulyouDon’t let being sick slow you down! Stay well by following these tips and getting regular exercise.