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Helpful Hints on Staying Healthy at Work when Everyone's Sick

You've probably experienced days at work where there was a symphony of coughing and sneezing from coworkers getting a cold. Of course, being the stalwart employees that they are, they decide to come into work and spread the wealth of viral germs. How is it possible to stay healthy in an environment where everyone has a cold?

It is possible and takes some diligence in terms of infection control on your part. In fact, there may be times when you have to be a bit rude asking those sniffling and coughing coworkers who want to linger around your desk to chit chat to leave. By putting some of the following suggestions into practice, you should be able to weather most colds seasons cooped up with your coworkers.

1. Wash your hands at every opportunity. You will see and hear this suggestion everywhere and it is very important that you carry it out. Every time you eat, sneeze, cough or go to the restroom, wash your hands. In addition, if you are handed paperwork from another person who was exhibiting cold symptoms, wash your hands and avoid touching the paper for a while. Keep a hand sanitizer in your desk for those moments when a sink and soap are not handy.

2. Keep a can of disinfectant handy as well to spray down your work surface area. You do not know who might have borrowed the stapler or used your phone in your absence. As germs tend to linger on surfaces, the spray disinfectant can kill most of them and dissipate and dry rather quickly. Items that deserve a quick spray include your telephone as well as your computer keyboard and mouse.

3. Eat your breakfast. It is the most important meal of the day and eating something healthy is essential for the necessary fuel to get through the day. If you are tired and have no energy because you did not eat, this could lower your defenses just enough to catch everyone else's cold.

4. Stay hydrated! Keep a water bottle handy at all times. When you are well hydrated, this keeps your body flushed of toxins that tend to build up if you do not drink enough fluids. Try not to drink too much coffee, tea or soda, even if they do have water in them. The caffeine in them is actually dehydrating and counterproductive to your efforts.

5. Take a vacation. Studies show that those people who actually use their vacation days are healthier than those who think they are too indispensable to do so. Vacations allow you to decompress and shake the daily stress of the office for a while. When you return you are rejuvenated and ready to tackle anything, including colds and other illnesses.

6. Shut your door, if you have one. When you shut your office door, you can prevent some of those germs from floating your way. If you do not have a door, the best way to avoid germs is to politely tell your sniffly coworker that you will talk with them over the phone or email if it is something that cannot wait. Explain that you rather avoid getting sick yourself and hope that they will understand. Luckily, most people would not take offense to that logic.

Just remember that staying healthy at work means that you are not carrying home germs to your family. So essentially, avoiding illness at work translates to a happy, healthy home as well.