Tips to avoid getting sick on trains, planes and automobiles
In the midst of this crazy flu season....
I'm finally back from my trip to India, but my re-entry back to the daily grind has been a little rough. Despite staying super healthy during my entire trip, on my return flight home, I caught the flu.I haven't had the flu in many years, but boy does it feel like it's gotten so much more vicious than I remember!I got home late last Saturday night, Sunday I could feel something brewing in me, but I still woke up in good spirits Monday. I hit the ground running so I could share all the fun gifts I got for the orders that were placed in my absence. (Which by the way THANK YOU so much for all the support...I had so much putting together those orders!) Despite sleeping over ten hours each night, by Tuesday I began to fade. By that afternoon I was down for the count--and for so much longer than I expected--a whole entire week! I only began feeling better this past Tuesday. I can't tell you how happy I am to be feeling better now, So in the midst of this crazy flu season, I'm going to play it much safer on trains, planes and automobiles from this point forward.
Tips to avoid getting sick on trains, planes and automobiles
The gentleman sitting next to me on the plane was extremely sick. He had a deep chest bug with a lot of congestion--he clearly was not doing well. A full 14 hours of sitting next to someone like that is obviously a recipe for getting sick. So, some things I plan to do next time I use public transportation that involves close quarters and a long travel time are:
Wear an Anti-virus Facemask- I can't make someone next to me wear it, but I can definitely wear one myself. I'm sure at first I might not like it, but 14 hours of a mask is so much better than a week of being out of commission.
Ask to be Moved (and be a little more adamant about it)- When I noticed how sick the man was, I requested to move seats. Since I was traveling with my husband, the flight attendant said two seats would be difficult to find together since it was a pretty full flight. But during my first bathroom break, a few hours into my flight, I noticed that there were several options where we could have moved. By than passengers were sprawled out, so I didn't feel comfortable making a stink about moving. But next time, for such a long flight, I would definitely be more adamant about needing to move.
Use the Air Vents - I'm usually cold on planes, so I don't like having the air vents on above me, but in this case I think having them on might have been helpful to circulate the air more.
Stay Hydrated with Warm Liquids - I usually travel with a few of my favorite teas...peppermint and Echinacea. Sipping on it during the whole flight could have really been helpful. Staying hydrated helps ward off germs as your noses and throat keep your protective mucous membranes working. In addition, hot liquids can help kill off germs...especially when they contain essential oils like peppermint and Echinacea.
Double Up on Immune Boosters - 2-3 days before traveling I will definitely double up on immune boosters like Ume, Umcka and Elderberry. All of these natural remedies are known to help with preventative cold/flu care.
Antibacterial Wipes & Sprays - I had wipes, which I used frequently, but next time I think I'll also travel with a spray, so that I can continually spray the air around me.
What do you do before or during travel to help keep the sickies away? I'd love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below.I look forward to sharing more about my travels in the coming weeks. Until then, here's to staying healthy and happy for the rest of the winter!xo,Kajal
