How to Stay Healthy While Working Closely with Others

Wellness

Aug 5

You know it. I know it. We all know it. Schools harbour some nasty bugs. And every year, without fail, it seems, these bugs get around and start visiting every.single.kiddo in our classrooms. I remember my first and second years teaching, I was out for a good week with a fever and flu. It was not fun. To top it all off, my husband was pastoring two congregations at the time, and I felt like I was among coughing souls constantly.

I’m determined not to get sick as often anymore, and I haven’t for a while. Here are some easy things you can implement today to help give your immune system a little help with trying to avoid getting sick with all the germs associated with your job. Staying healthy isn’t impossible, though it can be hard at times.

Wash Your Hands

I can’t emphasize this enough. There are so many things we touch that we don’t even think about harbouring nasty germs. Shared supplies, even door hands, tables and chairs, are fair game when germs are involved. Wash those hands - especially before you eat!

Sanitize Work Spaces

Soap and water will do the trick nicely. Wipe down any shared surfaces and even your desk daily! My kiddos get a kick out of helping with this process. If appropriate, you can assign daily sanitization as a classroom job.

Avoid Touching Your Face

This can be hard sometimes, but keep your hands off your face! Back to washing your hands, sometimes we touch things and we aren’t even sure

Take Your Shoes Off at Your Door

I never understood why people wear shoes in their houses. When you think about the places your shoes have been, it will be a huge turn off to keep them on in the house. I think watching a kiddo throwing up all over the floor (and several students more over the years) have been a huge reminder of this. Public restrooms, sidewalks, and all other public areas have the potential to have some nasty stuff on the floor. Many times we aren’t even aware that we’ve stepped into something gross. Keep your shoes at your door to keep germs from spreading and growing where you live, eat, and sleep!

You might think I’m a germaphobe (and let’s be real, I kind of am), but I would also venture to have taking shoes off at the door include not sitting in your bed or on your couch in the clothes you wore around and sat around in all day too. Stuff carries, yo!

Drink Plenty of Water

Drinking water is a natural immune system booster! Water helps carry oxygen to our body systems which helps them keep strong. It also helps us get rid of the toxins that could be making us sick in the first place! Hard to get your water in? It’s not hard to get creative about your water intake.

Immune System Boosting Food

The food we eat needs to help build us up - not just fill our stomachs. Check out some foods that boost immunity.

Rest Rest Rest!

Rest is underrated. Seriously. Our bodies need time to recover and recuperate from stress so we can face a new day.

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