Summer colds are the worst, right? There’s nothing like nursing a fever in summer heat and humidity. Or worse, ruining a vacation with a cold. For a lot of people, summer means travel, and travel can mean catching a cold. Airports, cruise ships, trains, and cottages have all sorts of germs and allergens that your immune system won’t be used to. Compounded with vacation eating habits, it can be hard to maintain your fitness routine and stay healthy. So, here are some tips for avoiding those awful summer colds.
- Wash your hands at every opportunity. This is especially important in airport bathrooms and other high-traffic areas. On beaches and in campgrounds, keep hand sanitizer available. Antibacterial wipes can also help, but be sure to keep them in a re-sealable plastic bag in case their original container leaks.
- Eat fruits and vegetables, even while dining out. If you’re attempting to lose weight, this will help keep you on track. And if you’re trying to stay healthy, incorporating more vitamins, minerals, and fibre from whole food sources can give you the energy you need to have the most fun this summer. It will also give your immune system what it needs to fight off any strange germs, and keep inflammation down. So: make sure to order salads and smoothies wherever you may be.
- Sleep! Long summer days make it easy to stay up late, but a lack of sleep can have a real impact on your health. Make sure that you go to bed on time. If you’re traveling, keep your own body’s rhythms in mind. When you start to feel a little bit tired, listen to yourself and either take a nap, or go to bed.
- Use the summer as an opportunity to change up your fitness routine, and to include your family in your exercise. We love seeing you at our clubs, but you can get even more activity in with family walks after dinner. When you’re traveling, try to incorporate fun physical activities like beach volleyball, tug o’ war, tag, long walks between attractions. You’ll be testing different muscle groups, while spending time with your family.
