As the holiday season approaches, our Registered Nurses at Maya Homecare want to share some helpful tips on staying healthy. The hustle and bustle of the holidays can leave us feeling tired and spent, but if you follow our useful tips below you are sure to stay happy and healthy during the most wonderful time of the year.

1. Wash your heads frequently!

Visits and outings with family and friends make us more vulnerable to catching a bug and getting sick. That’s why it is very important to keep the germs away. There is nothing worse than getting sick while the family is in town. Washing your hands is the easiest and most sure way to prevent getting sick. Make sure you spend at least 20 seconds washing your hands! A quick rinse is not going to get rid of all the bacteria. When soap and water is not available, you should use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer and rub it for 20 seconds as well.

2. Drink plenty of water.

With all the buzz and activities of the holiday season it is easy to forget to stay hydrated. We often forget to drink water, and on top of that often enjoy a couple of drinks. Our favorite comfort foods are also often high in sodium, which only adds to the dehydration. There are a couple of ways to make sure you are staying hydrated. Setting an hourly reminder on your phone can be useful to help you remember to drink a glass of water every hour. Another tip is to follow each alcoholic drink with a glass of water, which helps to prevent dehydration. Cutting down on comfort foods such as mac and cheese, pizza, chips and popcorn can aid in preventing dehydration as well.

3. Keep your regular sleep schedule.

During the holidays we are tempted to stay up late with our friends and family. However, disruptions to your regular sleep schedule can cause serious negative consequences for your health. Irregular sleep schedule leads to disruption in our metabolism, decreased focus and bad mood. That’s why is very important to go to bed at the same time every night and to get at least 7 hours of sleep. One way to accomplish that is to schedule family and friend gatherings earlier in the evening. Taking advantage of daytime holiday activities instead of late night gatherings is another way to ensure you go to bed at a reasonable time. Another tip is to plan and follow a schedule of all the tasks that need to be done throughout the day, instead of trying to crunch everything into late evening hours.

The entire team at Maya Homecare wishes you a happy holiday season filled with joy. Stay safe and healthy!