Stay Well This Winter: Tips for Healthy Early Educators!
Hey Reader!
‘Tis the season to be….sniffling! Have you ever noticed how quickly you can start feeling those sniffles come on? Early childhood educators are exposed to So.Many.Germs. All the time. We typically hold children close (especially, those who aren’t feeling their best); We’re the ones who wipe noses and try to catch sneezes from afar – who am I kidding? Those sneezes and coughs land all over us every single day! So what are some things YOU can do to keep yourself healthy during this sniffling season?
- Stay hydrated. Indoor air is drier during the winter when we have to turn on the heat so we need to be even more vigilant about our water intake in the winter months. Typically, when it’s hot outside, we’re more likely to drink more water naturally to replenish sweat. But, staying hydrated during the winter actually helps your body filter out germs and toxins that can build up when your skin, nose, and throat are too dry!
- Get enough sleep. Y’all know you need to be getting good sleep. Do you have a sleep routine that you follow? Create one. Resting our bodies is critical to repair and restore our immune systems after a day of being attacked by little microscopic viruses and bacteria! HERE are some ideas for creating a night-time routine that might help you sleep better.
- Get active and eat well! We’ve all made New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight and be more active at some point in our life. Did you make that same resolution this year? (Me, too) Are you still sticking with it? Eating healthy and staying active really DOES impact your body’s overall ability to fight off illness. A balanced diet filled with colorful fruits and veggies (and other good stuff) reduces inflammation in your body and boosts its ability to fight off infection. The extra oxygen pumping through your body when you go on a walk or fit in a good workout also boosts your lung health (hello, upper respiratory infection…we have your number this time around). This is your reminder to get back on the band wagon! It’s about more than fitting into your jeans again. Fighting off that cold is worth it!
You might want to read THIS article or THIS article which also offer easy tips for staying healthy – specifically for teachers!
Accountability is the hardest right? I’ve used this “habit tracker” in the past (PDF or Excel) and it has helped me stay on track (or at least makes it really obvious when I’m dropping the ball). Feel free to download and print it for yourself. These are my health goals for January:
- Drink Emergen-C every day to boost my vitamin C and Zinc (and other stuff too).
- I work hard at going to bed at a decent hour – turn my phone to do-not-disturb at 9pm, in bed by 10:30p, awake by 6a;
- I do my best to drink lots of water and limit caffeine to two cups of coffee in the morning;
- I’m committed to eating a salad 5 days a week
- I’m taking my dog for a walk at least once each day (my goal is morning and night).
Ask me how I’m doing! I’ll commit to scanning my habit tracker and sending it to you when you email me! I’d love to hold you accountable too!
Cheering you on this week!
-Your ECCN team
Colossians 3:16
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
