How to Avoid Getting Sick As A Working Homeschool Mom

It’s getting colder, and you know what that means? Cold and flu season will be making the rounds again and it is important to learn how to avoid getting sick as a working homeschool mom.

If you are anything like me, you want to have supplies on hand to help you avoid being sick in the first place and to help you recover quickly should you succumb to the pesky bugs.

After all, who has time to be sick?

Most advice I’ve read on how to avoid getting sick as a working homeschool mom is fairly common sense, such as “avoid contact with bacteria and viruses at school and work.”

In reality, that is much more difficult when you have a little one coughing in your face or dealing with the public all day at work.

Instead, I’m going to share with you a few tips that can help you avoid getting sick and a list of things to have on hand should the flu bug bite you that will help you recover faster!

How to Avoid Getting Sick As A Working Homeschool Mom

Before we begin swapping our favorite homemade remedies, please note that the following tips are based on my experience. As in, “Hey, this has worked for me.”

⇒They are not intended as medical advice or to replace your doctor’s instructions. You should always consult your doctor if you have any questions about your health.

As someone who works outside the home with people, the chances of me bringing home the current bug of the week are pretty strong. Like you, I don’t have time to be sick.

4 Tips To Avoid Getting Sick

These tips I am about to share help me avoid catching every cold and flu going around. This does not mean I never get sick, but anything that helps decrease the odds of picking up the newest bug is a win in my book!

1. Washing Your Hands

Pretty common sense, I know but working with the public, I have rediscovered how many people use the bathroom, fix their hair, and waltz out of the washroom, forgetting to wash their hands. (gag!)

Consider this a friendly reminder. Wash your hands. Use soap. Take the time.

Do you know how you teach your kids to sing in their head the entire alphabet while brushing their teeth to bush long enough? When it comes to washing your hands, you can teach them the same idea. The same goes for you, busy momma, scrub your hands for roughly 20 seconds in case you don’t like singing.

In Canada, these cool posters tell you the proper way to wash your hands. You can even get one for your home if your family needs the reminder.

Disclosure: I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

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Also, if you work with money, you might want to wash your hands before you use the bathroom. Money is so dirty and is passed through so many hands.

This is just one lesson I learned from years of working as a cashier. My daughter is now a cashier and swears by Wet Ones and sanitizing the till when she can. Not all stores have the policy to clean so be sure to pack your own things to help you avoid getting sick.

2. Fuel Your Body

We all know eating healthy is important. When trying to avoid a bug or fighting one, it is even more important to give your body the tools it needs to get well soon.

Make sure you give your body the fuel it needs to fight germs. Try to include fresh veggies and fruit if possible.

With the price of food rising you may need to stretch your dollar, I find frozen veggies more affordable and are great in homemade soup or steamed.

If you are feeling like you are getting sick, I find eating Homemade chicken soup is awesome. (Hint: pre-make it and freeze a few bowls for these occasions)

When our family got sick a while ago, I was so happy we had stocked up on canned chicken soup. Even my kids could open and heat up a can while I was at work. When buying canned soup, I aim for the “less salt”, fewer preservatives and organic if I can find it in a canned item. The point is, don’t beat yourself up over “only” having canned soup. Do what you can.

I use Ginger ale, ginger chews, and soda crackers for an upset stomach.

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Increase your water intake. This allows your body to flush toxins, germs, and other fun stuff right out of your system. Plus it helps you stay hydrated.

If you are sick and the very thought of water makes your stomach roll, use ginger ale or an electrolyte-filled drink such as Gatorade.

3. Move Every Day

Moving each and every day is so important. There are many benefits of working out regularly. Among them are more energy, less stress, better sleep, and fortifying your immune system. (Read all 11 benefits of Exercise)

Exercise does not need to be time-intensive or expensive. Walking around the block, using the stairs, parking farther away from the entrance, etc. This counts.

Once I start feeling a bug coming on I tend to not work out. Many moms say working out helps them get well faster. Others say they need the rest.

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My advice: You know your body best. If you start on a walk and feel worse, you can slow down and come home. Walking outdoors helps me feel better, but a gym workout does not.

4. Disinfect your home and workspace

Cleaning your home is one step, but if you work in an office or public area, see if you can get a hold of items to keep your area clean.

Hand sanitizer or wipes for surfaces such as doorknobs, keyboards, ATM machines, light switches, computer mice, the foam on your microphone headset, your own cell phone…whatever you touch regularly wipe it down.

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Disinfecting is an important step that kills bacteria and viruses. I really like using Mrs. Meyer’s All-Purpose Cleaner Spray at home.

Make sure tissues are within reach for sneezing and running noses.

How To Be Prepared For Being Sick

When I woke up and realized both kids were sick, hubby was sick at work, and I was probably next, I took action. I quickly texted him a list of things to pick up on his way home from work to help us beat this.

Also, I was kicking myself for not being prepared in the first place.

Here are some items we try to keep in the house:

• Fever medicine
• Heating pad
• Hot water bottle
• Buckets
• Tissue
• Puffs Plus Lotion with the Scent of Vicks for me
• Vicks Vapor Rub
• Lip Balm
• Throat Lozenges
• Lemons (for tea)
• Ginger root (for Tea)
• Honey (for Tea)
• Sore Throat Tea
• Canned chicken noodle soup
• Ginger Ale
• Orange Juice
• Soda Crackers

And a list of ingredients for homemade chicken noodle soup since the cans weren’t going to hold out long enough:

• Chicken-small sized whole (I cook mine in the Instant Pot)
• Onions
• Garlic
• Small red potatoes
• Carrots
• Spices

How I Avoid Getting Sick As A Working Homeschool Mom

Remember, cold and flu seasons come and go while there is no guarantee you won’t get sick taking practical steps goes a long way.

Don’t forget to:

1. Wash your hands and teach your kids to keep washing their hands as well
2. Eat properly before sick and during sickness
3. Get some fresh air and exercise
4. Disinfect your home and workspace

And don’t forget to stock up now before you and your family get sick!

What else do you use to stay healthy during the cold and flu season as a working mom?

One thing that lowers your immune system is running yourself ragged, trying to do everything.

Are you doing too much? Find out here: How To Know If You Are Doing Too Much 

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