Wash Your Hands
Bring Your Own Blanket
If you're staying with friend or relatives over the holiday, or crashing at someone else's place after the office holiday party, be sure to pack your own blanket. Germs are survivors, and bedding is an easy way to share a cold without actually having to touch.
Bring Your Own Pillow (Or Pillowcase)
Same goes for pillows, where germs love to hang out and play. If you can, bring your own pillow. If you want to be less obvious, tuck a clean pillowcase into your overnight bag—and use it. There is no shame in anti-viral measures.
Get Your Flu Shot
Look, you should have gotten the shot back in October. But, even if you didn't, they're still available at your doctor's office or a local pharmacy. Get one now and, by the time you're stuffed into an airplane or being forced to kiss your aunt and uncle, you should have the protection you need from this season's flu virus.
Don't Drink Too Much
'Tis the season and all that, but tying one on night after night is going to weaken your immune system and make fighting colds and illness a losing battle. So cut back on the booze, setting your limit before you head out to a party. Switch to soda or juice as the night wears on and, no matter what, do not share your drinks with others. Not even for just a little taste.
Eat Healthy Foods
Staying healthy is a matter of avoiding certain germs, but it also means eating the kinds of foods that boost your immune system and make you feel good. Lots of greens and citrus, whole fruits and vegetables, salads and smoothies packed with vitamins. Limit sugar, too, as it wreaks havoc on your blood sugar and insulin levels, leaving you hungry, cranky and possibly more vulnerable to getting sick.
Exercise
Exercise boosts circulation and increases blood flow around your body, which lets your immune system detect viruses or other problems before they spread too widely. So keep your fitness routine, possibly even adding reps, miles or time spent in the gym, to keep yourself from coming down with a cold or the flu.
