Did you know that the longer you are on an airplane the higher your risk of getting sick becomes? That’s what my doctor told me when I asked her why I’ve been sick so much this season. She said if your flight is longer than two hours, you have a much higher chance of getting sick.
That’s not the news I wanted to hear since I’ve been on four trips in the last five weeks! But my health actually proves her point because I’ve gotten sick three out of four of those trips despite all my strategies to avoid germs, including wiping down everything I touch with my favorite lemon scented disinfectant wipes.
I feel like my immune system is shot. I don’t have any energy, I drag through my days and my brain just won’t work at full capacity. I hate it! And once your immune system is compromised it’s even easier to get sick again. That’s the way this season has gone for me. I no sooner start to feel better than another bug grabs me and I get sick all over again.
It all got me thinking about my immune system and what I can do to give it a boost. I know my crazy schedule doesn’t help my body stay well. So here are some things I’m going to work on to try to get healthy and stay that way:
Sleep more
I keep changing time zones which means my sleep schedule keeps getting shifted around. On top of that, I fill my days too full so there just aren’t enough hours left to get a good night’s sleep. My doctor agrees. She even threatened to write a prescription for me to stop traveling and get more rest! So I’m going to start trying to give my body the sleep it needs.
Stress less
I have to admit I thrive on stress. I love my crazy schedule that includes things like my recent TEDx Talk. TED is a non-profit that defines itself as “devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading” and brings together the world’s brightest and most innovative leaders, thinkers and doers across the globe.
But as much as I love doing things like my TED Talk, or my recent satellite interview series, they really are stressful! High stress can make you sick ... and being sick when you’re busy can make the stress worse. It’s a vicious circle that I need to climb out of.
So I’m making a pact with myself to find more time for relaxing things like listening to music, meditating or my favorite – taking long hot baths.
Eat better
It’s hard to stick to a good diet plan, especially when I’m traveling. But I’m lucky because I love a big salad full of leafy greens. I am also a big proponent of eating lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and staying away from saturated fats.
Staying hydrated is also critical. As winter sets in and heaters come on, I can feel my body drying out. So I make a real effort to drink lots of water even when what I want is a Lemon Drop Martini!
If you’re tired of plain water, try this tip from my makeup artist in New York City who helped hide the signs of my cold the last time I was on TV. She recommends mixing ginger, lemon and manuka honey in warm water and drinking tons of it. Manuka honey is produced in New Zealand and is said to have anti-bacterial properties that other honeys don’t have.
Get help
As a health advocate, I know that making time to go to the doctor is critical to being healthy. In this case, my doctor figured out that I am vitamin D deficient. That’s something I could not have figured out on my own and it’s going to take a prescription-strength dose to get my levels back where they need to be. So if you are sick, take advantage of the help your doctor can give you to get well.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases says there are 200 different viruses that can cause a cold and I feel like I’ve had at least 180 of them! There are lots of products on store shelves that claim they can boost my immunity if I just take a pill, but I don’t believe them.
You can’t buy good health. That’s the bottom line for me. But you can be your own health advocate by taking good care of your body’s immune system by getting plenty of sleep, eating right and exercising. And don’t forget to treat yourself to something you love ... like my favorite lemon drop Martinis!