​Tips To A Healthy Holiday By Shannon Tierney

Living in Illinois my whole life has gotten me accustomed to the freezing cold winters that come and go every year. I love the beauty of a serene white blanket of snow across a field, but unfortunately with a pretty winter come a not so pretty flu season, which means the possibility of being sick during a holiday, and nobody wants that.

It’s important to remember to make sure to take extra care of yourself in the winter time so you don’t end up sick for the holiday seasons. To give you the optimal chance of not only having a happy holiday, but a healthy one, here are a couple tips to strengthen your immune system.

First, you have to make sure you drink plenty of water. I know how good a hot cup of coffee tastes on a cold day but drinking the proper amount of water every day is key to any healthy lifestyle. Remember that eight glasses of water is the recommended amount for a regular day, but that may vary depending on your weight and height. Also, there is absolutely NO substitute for water, no matter how good coffee is.

Another important thing to think about is stress. I definitely understand the stress of the holiday season, especially when still attending school and dealing with final exams, but stressing yourself out about testing can make you more susceptible to getting sick. Set aside at least one day every week to relax at home and just take a breath. In the long run it will definitely be worth it.

Something that I personally have tons of trouble with during the holiday season is getting enough sleep. Getting distracted by studies or by deciding on the perfect gift for someone is very common and feels unavoidable. Setting an alarm for yourself to remind you that it’s time to get some sleep will help you feel fully rested and not be as likely to get sick. I’m not suggesting you go to sleep at 7 PM but the average person needs 6-8 hours of sleep each night and people who don’t get as much sleep tend to have a weaker immune system than someone who gets their full eight hours.  

These are just a few things you can do to help yourself stay healthy, but unfortunately sometimes getting sick is unavoidable. If you do end up sick it’s still very important to take care of yourself. Don’t ignore the fact that you’re sick. Take off work or school and get some rest. You won’t get anywhere overworking yourself. You’ll only end up even more sick.


Keep these things in mind over the next couple of months and you’ll have a great chance of staying healthy. Happy Holidays!