We love fall! There is a lot of talk about colorful leaves, drinking hot cocoa, apple picking, and other fun fall activities. What we may not talk about early enough, is keeping ourselves and others healthy throughout the fall and winter seasons. The flu and other nasty illnesses pique during October and November. Making healthy best practices a habit in the office can make these upcoming months manageable.
The more you and your employees are sick, the more absences there are. Then everyone becomes a little less productive. Here are habits to kick into gear NOW:
Wash your hands. Have you ever thought about how many times you touch your face in just one day? The National Institute of Health says that we do so approximately 2 – 5 times per minute. We do it unconsciously. Washing your hands before you eat, after a restroom visit, and after you sneeze will minimize the transfer of germs. Something like… scrub for as long as it takes you to sing that Happy Birthday song twice should do the trick (sing it out loud if you want)!
Avoid those who are not feeling well. It’s not those who are already sick and displaying clear signs, but those who aren’t feeling their best are just as contaminated. It could be days before your coworkers are showing signs that they have the flu.
Take time to unwind and de-stress. Stress can be your downfall during the fall and winter months. Your immune system might not work as well if you are feeling overwhelmed. Make sure you take a second to RELAX! If you’re looking for an easy way to BOOST your immune system, stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.
Keep your workspace clean. Wiping down your desk, phone, keyboard, and other areas of your workspace can minimize the spread of bacteria and germs.
With these healthy habits in mind, make to communicate with your employees on how they can play their part in the health of your company this season. Communication is the number one way of being proactive about being healthy.