Pritam Potts
Fall has arrived and the holiday season is just around the corner.
With the holidays comes cold and flu season, increased stress, less healthy eating, and increased proximity to potentially sick people. Waiting to take advantage of the chink in your immune system’s armor to keep yourself in optimal condition to fight off bugs that may start (or have already spread) around you. It’s never too early.
In my own experience, when you get sick, you get sick. But what about all the times your body is fighting a virus and you weren’t aware of it? It happens all the time. The way we take care of ourselves helps.
In my case, I am still recovering from my unfortunate COVID-19 infection, but surprisingly, my third COVID-19 infection came at the worst possible time. I’m keeping quiet about my illness, but I’m determined to get through the end of the year happy and healthy.
One time, as I was coughing and sneezing all over the house, my husband said, “It would be a miracle if this didn’t hit me.”
It seems like miracles do happen after all! It was late on the third day that I tested positive, so he was at high risk. I was so relieved that he didn’t understand.
Let’s look at some factors we can control that will (hopefully) help us avoid getting sick.
stress
It is well known that stress affects the immune system. When you feel stressed, you become more susceptible to illness and infection. Stress seems to be everywhere these days, from persistently high prices to the chaotic state of the world, and for some, the upcoming election may be a factor. How can you avoid being overwhelmed by stress? Breathe, meditate, exercise, laugh, take breaks, get enough sleep, call a friend, do a fun project, and avoid doomscrolling. Please. Relieving stress with alcohol or snacks can lead to various problems, so be careful.
nutrition
These days, everyone seems to have a different idea of what type of diet will best support your body. Regardless of how you choose your overall diet, avoid sugar, avoid processed foods, eat more vegetables, eat more fruit, eat more whole foods, and lean protein. There is some consensus about certain foods, such as eating . Other than that, try not to stress. Failure to do so may cause more stress. For tips on what to do and what not to do at seasonal gatherings, see my previous column, “Holiday Event Survival Guide.”
hydration
When your body is hydrated, it functions better. This doesn’t necessarily mean guzzling down ridiculous amounts of water every day. I typically drink about 3-4 16oz Yeti tumblers a day and pace myself throughout the day. This is my lifelong habit. My neighbor, who is working on increasing his water intake, struggles to drink even half that amount. Perhaps she doesn’t have to make the effort to drink eight 8-ounce glasses, as everyone has been told. Recent research shows that water needs vary from person to person, so drink what you think is beneficial (at least two glasses). Just be careful not to drink too much too close to bedtime. If you don’t, you may not get as restful sleep as you would like.
exercise
Maintaining some level of exercise during the holidays can be very helpful. I know we talk about this all the time, but exercise is great for our health, stress relief, and immune response. You may have to adapt to inclement weather, adjust your routine, or simply rely on walking around your neighborhood during the busiest times, but you can fit it into even your busiest schedule. It can be something as simple as stretching, yoga, or dancing at home to a great song. Anything that moves your body regularly!
emotional management
During this time, whether we’re experiencing happiness and excitement, or sadness, grief, or loneliness (which is especially common when we’ve lost a loved one), emotions affect our immune systems and our It also affects the body’s stress response. Tools like seeking support, journaling, practicing mindfulness, and keeping things in perspective (in my case, telling myself “this too shall pass”) are very effective. ) can be very helpful in managing emotions. Establishing a positive mindset (defined by Merriam-Webster as a “mental attitude or disposition”) is also very powerful.
So this holiday season, plan your personal approach to staying healthy. Control what you can and don’t worry too much about what you can’t. Do your best to support your body’s amazing ability to fight off nasty viral and bacterial infections. We tend to take our health for granted, but when we’re at our worst, we’re miserably reminded that that’s all there is to it.
Colds, flu, and the new coronavirus are all around us this year, but your immune system may be able to work miracles to fend off all of them.
Because according to my husband, miracles really do happen!
— Written by Pritam Potts
Coach Pritam Potts is an author and strength coach. After years of training athletes and clients of all ages as co-owner of Edmonds-based Advanced Athlete LLC, he now resides in Dallas, Texas. She writes about health and happiness, grief and loss, love and life at infinitecapability.substack.com and www.advancedathlete.com.
