This week I was caught off guard by the common cold. One moment I felt fine, then the next… it hit me. Most people don’t get sick often in summer, but that definitely doesn’t mean it can’t happen to you! Make sure you keep your health in tip-top shape by doing the following. Don’t let the common cold ruin your day!

1. Eat right.

I know you have probably been told this a lot, by your mom, your doctor, or your spouse, but the way you eat affects your mood, your productivity, and your immune system. Through eating a variety of fruits and vegetables every day, your body will thank you. I struggle with this one too. Eating healthy can be difficult when you are in a time crunch. You don’t exactly have time to go whip up a meal at home. Or perhaps you just don’t have the energy or the money. One go-to food I love is spinach. It literally goes with everything. I put it in my burgers, omelettes, and pizza. My favorite easy fix is tossing spinach with some raspberries (or other fruit) and pecans and adding a light drizzle of raspberry vinaigrette. Pinterest also lists many simple, healthy recipe ideas you can throw together in a matter of minutes.

2. Exercise.

I know you have probably heard this one a lot too. Especially with the society we live in pushing a certain body type, but it really is important. I am not saying you have to go spend three hours at the gym or run five miles, but physical movement greatly affects your health. Again, I get that time and energy make it difficult, but try setting aside just twenty minutes a day to do something. Start small. Maybe it could be a moonlit walk with your significant other, or maybe jogging on the treadmill, or doing weights at the gym. Maybe it is starting a little friendly competition at a game of tennis. Just do something!

3. Be stress free!

Stress is a huge contributor to your health. When you put stress on yourself, your chances of getting sick increase dramatically. Avoiding stress can be difficult, particularly if you struggle with anxiety. Sometimes when you feel really stressed, it is best to take the time to do little things for yourself.

Do something that makes you happy. Take a bubble bath, read a book, cook your favorite meal. Separate yourself from your circumstances. See the bigger picture and find ways to minimize what you are stressing over. If you cannot minimize it, try to find ways to work through it, or comes to terms with those stresses. Another awesome way to minimize stress is practicing deep breathing. Whenever you deal with something stressful, just take a moment, close your eyes, and inhale deeply. Doing this frequently may help you deal with stress throughout the day.There are also a variety of breathing techniques you can find online that relieve or decrease stress.

Another thing that helps me is eating small, healthy snacks throughout the day. This kind of ties in with number one. I take quick breaks to munch on snap peas or strawberries or something, and, in return, I get a little mood boost. Stress is super common on the day-to-day basis, and it is inevitable. If you can find a way that works for you to minimize it, you will feel a lot happier overall, and healthier!

4. Get the right nutrients

A lot of the time, people get sick because they lack the proper nutrients their body needs. During the winter, illness is more common because people, on average, spend more time inside than they do in the summer months. The Sun provides a large amount of vitamin D, meaning if you don’t go outside much, your body fails to absorb the right amounts of this vitamin. You need to find alternative ways to intake that vitamin to stay healthy. I don’t like going outside in summer because the heat irritates me. Let alone the sunburns that consistently accompany outdoor activities. Therefore, I take vitamin D supplements daily to ensure I still get the nutrients my body needs. Vitamin C supplements also give your immunity a strong boost. There are so many common ways to intake vitamin C nowadays. Emergen-C and Airborne are immunity boosters many people use. I like to eat tangerines and cuties instead of powders because they are easy to peel and snack size. I also prefer the flavor. Be sure that despite however busy your schedule may be, you give your body what it needs to stay healthy. The consequences will be good.

Even though you have probably heard it nearly a million times, be sure to incorporate a good diet, exercise, and relaxation into your daily life. Though it seems so simple, many of us, including myself, neglect our health when we become busy or caught up in life. Take care of your body this summer to ensure the common cold doesn’t catch you off guard.