This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CollectiveBias #NatureMadeWellness 
In my office, so many people are starting to sneeze and cough. And working in an open floor plan workspace certainly doesn’t help. Like everyone out there, I don’t want to get sick.
So every time someone sneezes into their hand on the subway before touching the pole, every time my co-worker blows his or her nose at their desk and every time I hear a lone cough, I plan to be as prepared as possible. Here are a few tips you can follow to avoid getting sick at work. Good luck to us all!
Be wary of shared snacks/appliances in the office.
You never know who’s been touching the shared cereal bins or not properly washing shared mugs and spoons. You might be better off bringing your own personal cups/utensils or thoroughly washing the shared ones before each use.
This also applies to door handles, elevator buttons, and most surfaces.
Make sure you’re getting enough sleep.
Nature Made® Melatonin Adult Gummies are a tasty and ridiculously easy way to help support sleep.† I have a pretty long commute and I have to wake up super early most days. Because of this, my weekend sleep schedule is kind of a mess. And, you’re even more vulnerable to getting sick when your body is deprived of sleep.
While these won’t stop you from getting sick, they can help support your sleep.† They provide 2.5 mg of melatonin that can help your body reset its sleep/wake cycle.† While this supplement won’t prevent you from getting sick, taking it can help support restful sleep.†
Keep hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes at your desk.
Sanitize your computer mouse, your keyboard, your desk drawers, and commonly touched surfaces at the beginning and end of each day to be safe.
…And keep hand sanitizer in your purse.
Especially if you commute on public transit. Be careful not to touch your face after touching subway poles or train doors. Better yet? Try to avoid touching as many surfaces on public transit as you can… just as a general rule for every season.
Work away from your desk if those near you are coughing and sneezing.
Sometimes those around you don’t quite take advantage of sick days. And instead of working from home, they “power through” and come into work. If you find you’re sitting around someone with some sneaky cold and flu symptoms (or obvious ones) make a point to bring your laptop to work (when possible) and work at a different area of the office. Or, if possible work from home.
You can also gently suggest your co-worker works from home the next day for the sake of everyone else.
Take your vitamins.
I am constantly on the go and running around, and it’s hard to stay on top of which vitamins and nutrients I’m not getting enough of. So, one of the ways I stay on top of my health is by taking Nature Made® Vitamin D3 Adult Gummies, which contain 2000 IU of vitamin D3 per serving (two gummies).D3 is actually the body’s preferred form of vitamin D.*
These gummies can help support bone, teeth, muscle and, most relevant, immune health.† Plus, they’re pretty tasty. While these won’t prevent you from getting sick, they are just another way to help you stay in good health.
Keep on top of your fruit and vegetable intake.
Make a conscious effort to add them to your lunch at work, or to bring in an apple or some baby carrots to eat as a snack. During cold and flu season I definitely try to be extra on top of taking my vitamins and adding vegetables to my lunches for the next day.
Some of my favorite work meals and snacks with fruits and vegetables are:
– Leftover chicken teriyaki stir fry with rice, broccoli, and peppers
– Baby carrots with roasted red pepper hummus
– Cold chickpea salad (chickpeas tossed with olive oil, grated parmesan, garlic powder, chili powder and veggies of choice)
– A sliced banana with some peanut butter
– Sliced red apples dipped in dark chocolate
– Pasta with broccoli and sausage
– Leftover beef stew with potatoes and carrots
While these aren’t necessarily healthy, they do get some extra fruit and vegetables into my diet. Plus, I always drink a little extra orange juice around cold and flu season. I can’t say for sure if it helps boost my immune system at all, but I certainly feel better if I drink some.
Get some exercise.
Okay, okay. You should probably do this year-round, but it’s extra important when there’s the cold and flu going around. While I am, admittedly, no exercise guru, I do try to pencil it in. Some of my laziest exercise methods tend to include an activity I wanted or needed to do anyway. Here’s what I tend to pencil into my routine:
– Running up and down five flights of stairs to catch the subway
– Riding a stationary bike while watching an episode of “Desperate Housewives”
– Dancing around my room to 5 of my favorite upbeat songs
– Walking instead of taking the subway while listening to my new favorite podcasts “Serial” and “S-Town”
Prepare for if you get sick, just in case.
Once again, having vitamins in your medicine cabinet can come in handy for helping you to continue your daily routine. Plus, I always encourage having cans of soup in your pantry, tea bags in your cabinets and orange juice in your fridge.
While, obviously, this means you haven’t avoided getting sick, being prepared can potentially help you to feel better a little bit quicker. If nothing else, it’ll save you from going on Walmart runs for cans of soup while you’re feeling like garbage.
Overall? Just try to stay on top of your health more than ever.
Once again, having vitamins in your medicine cabinet can come in handy for helping you to continue your daily routine. Your health is always important, and answering a ton of emails and going on a mind-numbing commute should never get in the way of that.
And the Nature Made® Gummies I mentioned earlier can be found in the vitamin aisle at your local Walmart!
† These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
*Vitamin D3 is more effective than vitamin D2 at raising and maintaining adequate levels of circulating vitamin D in the body.†
