I’ll be totally honest with you guys, things are kind of scary right now. There’s so much negative news out there right now telling us to be afraid of things that are almost entirely out of our control, but it causes a mass hysteria to spread and honestly, it’s hard to avoid getting caught up in that. Should you be worried about this virus? Is it any different than the flu? There are a lot of mixed messages out there that even I am struggling with what to believe and what not to believe.
Despite all of that I know a couple of things. The first thing I want to do in all of this is reiterate the important facts that you already know but probably can’t hear enough. Then, once that’s out of the way, I want to talk to you guys about how to avoid the mental strain this is causing (my therapist and I spent half of a session talking about it, so I know I’m not the only one feeling bogged down by this entire thing). Anyway, this week, let’s focus on how you can physically protect yourself and help prevent your odds of getting sick.
Practice good hygiene
I’m definitely not the first person to tell you this, but in times like this, it is important to practice good hygiene. That means washing your hands regularly, especially when coming and going from and area, after touching potentially contaminated areas, and of course handling food or other items going to another person.
You should also be avoiding touching your face, although trust me, I know completely avoiding that is sort of impossible. Avoid it when you can, wash your hands after you do. Regularly washing your hands can help to make the times you do touch your face less terrifying.
Wipe down work surfaces regularly, especially at the beginning and end of the workday. This is especially important if you work in a high traffic area. We wipe down our surfaces at work every hour or so just because there are so many people coming in and out.
Studies show that proper hygiene can greatly decrease your risk for catching a cold or flu, so in these times, make sure to practice good hygiene.
Be Mindful of those at heightened risk
While this virus does not discriminate on gender, race, or age, some people are at greater risk than others. People who are above 65, those who are autoimmune, and those who are pregnant are at a greater risk of suffering from this virus and not coming out of it. That’s why it’s important to be mindful of these people and keep their health and wellness in mind.
That being said, mass buying hand sanitizer and face masks when you don’t need them is not helping you, it’s harming those who actually need them. People who are ill or at severe risk need the facemasks more than you do, so please do not bulk buy these items unless you truly need them. Buy only what you need, maybe a little extra of the essentials and be mindful that other people need them as well.
This is also a great time to reach out to a neighbor or coworker who may be at increased risk. See if they need you to bring them groceries or run errands for them. They might not be able to leave their house, but you can definitely leave their groceries at their doorstep.
Use your head to make decisions
While listening to the mass hysteria that is going on in the news, it might be tempting to quarantine yourself at the first sign of a runny nose, but chances are you are only sick like you normally would be. Common colds and seasonal allergies don’t go on hold just because a new virus is spreading, so don’t jump to conclusions too quickly. That being said, if your office building or school has shut down because of this virus, and you are feeling sick, use the time to catch up on some Netflicks and sleep. You deserve it.
Travel at your own precaution in these times. While it does not necessarily put you at more or less of a risk depending on where you are going, there is a lot of mixed advice on the topic. This is something that only you can choose to do. If you are a young, healthy individual with a good immune system, your probably safe to take a quick plane ride to wherever you need to go. If you have someone immunocompromised at home, you might want to look into canceling plans.
Stay out of public places if you have flu symptoms
This goes for all year round. If you have a runny nose due to allergies or a slight cold that is one thing, but if you have flu symptoms, stay home! You don’t need to stay home for 14 days, but use your head.
The CDC actually recommends that those with flu symptoms call their doctor and do an over the phone appointment, limiting everyone’s exposure to the flu (especially with A and B strains out there this year). When your doctor prescribes your medicine SEND SOMEONE ELSE TO GET IT FOR YOU! This also goes for if you have a kid. LEAVE YOUR SICK KID AT HOME OR IN THE CAR WHEN YOU PICK UP THEIR MEDICINE. Stop spreading viruses by coughing and running your hands everywhere. You are increasing someone else’s chance of being sick.
Don’t be afraid to call the doctor
If you are feeling sick and don’t know what to do, the best thing isn’t to rush off to urgent care. Instead, pick up the phone and call your doctor. Listen to their advice. If they tell you to self-quarantine, take the proper steps to implement that. If they tell you your fine and just need some rest and vitamin C, do that. Your doctor’s advise is the best tool you have right now, and they will be more than glad to help you out. They don’t want to see you get sick as much as you don’t want to get sick!
With that being said, next week I’ll talk some more about the ways to mentally prep for these trying times. In the meantime, I want to know what you guys are doing to distract yourself from the craziness that is going on right now. My therapist suggested that I get outside more and enjoy the fresh air and I think I plan to do just that! What are you guys up to? Let me know in the comments below.
Until next time,
Kat
I’m not going to talk too much about why the topic of immunity is so popular right now, mainly because I don’t think it’s a good idea to spread the fear, but it’s important to talk about ways to limit disease risk and boost immunity. I probably don’t need to give you the lecture on why you should wash your hands and cover your mouth when you cough, especially now, but I did want to talk about ways we think we can increase our immunity.
Does this mean that you should stop training hard for that marathon or stop working so hard towards your goals? Absolutely not! Just because you put a lot of hours in at the gym doesn’t mean you are going to get sick. Psychological responses, external factors, and lifestyle strategies all play into how our bodies react to viral and bacterial infections, meaning that what works well for one person, may not work well for another. Everyone responds differently. The best we can do is have a regular exercise routine, a healthy nutrition plan, and good hygiene (plus vaccinations and regular sleep). If you feel good about your training schedule and how intense your exercise is, keep at it. You’ll know your body and you’ll know when you need to take a break! Isn’t understanding our bodies what we athletes pride ourselves on? So much goes into the immune function that it’s nearly impossible to put all your eggs in one exercise-related basket. Don’t sweat it. Just get to the gym and sweat that!
On your first day back, take it easy. Keep your run speed closer to a jog, use lighter weights than normal, or just focus on body weights instead. You’re still actively recovering from being ill and your body needs proper time to adjust. As the days go on you can begin introducing more into your workouts or increasing your speed or duration of workouts. Just remember to STAY HYDRATED throughout the entire workout (especially if you are working out while sick and while just recovered).
The flu vaccine can help you avoid getting the flu altogether which will help you avoid hospitalization costs, drug store costs, and movie rental prices (that last one is kind of a joke). Getting vaccinated also helps you help other people who can’t get the vaccine. When you’re protected, you are helping cut of the spread of the flu virus. Therefore, if you are around younger or older people who cannot get vaccinated (whether for age or medical reasons), having the vaccine yourself greatly lowers their risk of getting the flu.
Kat Classics 
