Sometimes it feels like our family is perpetually sick. I know that’s not the reality, but since at least one member of our family is usually dealing with sniffles and/or congestion, it really feels like it. Many times it’s allergies – I suffer from environmental allergies – and other times it’s random sniffles from germs the kids pick up at school. However, it’s not hard for sniffles to go from an innocent annoyance to a full out cold (or worse, the flu)!
With cold and flu season about to hit us in full swing, I know you’re probably looking for ways to keep the germs away from your home. Or, at the very least, you want to ease the symptoms of illness and help your family be more comfortable when inevitably, the sickies hit your home. While I’m no doctor, as a mom of two and allergy sufferer, I’ve had my fair share of sniffles and cold and flu episodes. Here are a few simple tips I’ve picked up along the way!
3 Tips to Help with Cold & Flu Season in Your Home
- Use Honey: Using honey to help with a cough is a home remedy I learned from my own mami. As a little girl, she would mix a tablespoon of honey into a cup of orange juice, along with a splash of fresh-squeezed lemon juice and have me drink it whenever I had a cold and nasty cough. It tasted great and really did help my throat! I now do the same for my kids when they’re sick and even for myself.
- Keep Clean Hands: This may seem like an obvious thing, but you’d be surprised at how easy it is to go about your day without properly washing your hands. If you’re a mom, then you fully know how frustrating it can be to get your kids to wash their hands regularly. (For the life of me, I don’t understand why it’s such a hard ask of them.) That’s why I keep a container of antibacterial hand wipes (less than $2) in each of our cars and hand sanitizer in my purse. Even when we’re on-the-go, I can feel better that my family can clean their hands after a day at school, in-between errands, or while traveling.
- Check-Up on Your Health: I think we all know that we should regularly visit our doctors for an annual physical, but many of us don’t do so. Regular preventative health care is important; during cold and flu season, consider getting the flu vaccine and see if it’s right for you and your family. If you decide to do so, getting your flu shot is super easy and can even be done during a routine shopping trip at your Walmart! Check your local Walmart Pharmacy and speak with the pharmacists about the flu vaccine and other immunizations available. Many insurance plans are accepted at the Walmart Pharmacy, so it’s possible you may not even have an out-of-pocket expense for the flu vaccine, depending on your health plan! See here for more information or visit your local in-store Walmart Pharmacy.
Hopefully these simple tips will help you during this cold and flu season and the subsequent allergy season. Sniffles are no fun, but hopefully with a little thought and personal care, we can help each other get a handle on those germs!
What are some of your personal tips for getting through the cold and flu season?
All photos © Melanie Edwards/modernmami™
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