Three Ways to Avoid Workplace Illnesses

If you work in an office environment, you most likely will dread all of the viruses that seem to plague your place of work this time of year. That said, while you may think that “catching” a cold or flu is beyond your control, there are certain preventative measures that you can take to prevent yourself from ever contracting one of these “bugs” in the first place.

#1 - Eat Healthy Foods

Yes, Mom was right – you should eat your “veggies” on a regular basis. After all, the healthy minerals and vitamins that are in these foods will help to support your immune system. Thus, instead of “munching” on the office doughnuts or other sweets– which can actually suppress your immune system, you should instead seek out healthier snacks. For instance, you can bring snacks that include yogurt, granola bars, fruits and vegetables with you to work. Along similar lines, you should ensure that you remain properly hydrated throughout the day for optimal immune system efficiency. An easy way to stay hydrated is to keep a water bottle that is filled with cool, crisp water handy. Of course, you should also ensure that you are eating and drinking in a healthy manner after work hours as well to avoid workplace illnesses.

#2 - Engage in Stress-busting Activities

While much of today’s society looks favorably upon individuals who are constantly busy, it is vital for you to de-stress – in order to remain in a healthy state and avoid workplace illnesses. After all, high stress levels can weaken your immune system and leave you more vulnerable to cold, flu and other contagious viruses. Thus, you should ensure that you do get an adequate amount of sleep each and every night. Moreover, you should partake in “de-stressing” activities – whether that be reading, exercising, taking a bath, getting a massage or other related activity.

#3 - Try to Keep Your Workspace As Clean as Possible

First things first – you should be washing your hands on a regular basis. Additionally, as an extra precaution, you should clean and sanitize your work area regularly to avoid workplace illnesses. For instance, you can use anti-bacterial sanitizer to clean off your phone, cell phone, computer and other areas.

Overall then, while you may be prone to “catch” viruses in an office environment, if you take the proper preventative methods, you can reduce or even avoid workplace illnesses altogether.

Larisa Redins is a full time writer and editor with degrees in both Arts and Biological Science. She writes about career issues for ManhattanJobsBlog.com and other topics for a variety of international websites and magazines. Please visit her other blogs at ManhattanJobsBlog.com and view job posting at ManhattanJobs.com.