It is officially winter in New England. That means cold temperatures are here to stay and snow days are upon us. It can be a beautiful time of the year as snow blankets the landscape around us… but unfortunately, coming along with it is an increased susceptibility for illness. As our bodies get exposed to the cold, our chances of falling ill become greater. This doesn’t mean you can’t spend time outside, though! You can decrease your chances of getting sick by following these three tips.

1. Bundle up
This is probably the easiest solution to prevent your body from being exposed to the cold. Dress appropriately for the amount of time you plan to spend outside. The longer you plan on spending outside, the more layers and protection from the cold you should wear. Make sure to have the appropriate head wear, gloves, jacket, shoes and pants on top of the appropriate layers you have chosen.

2. Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands
It is common for germs to enter the body through the nose, mouth and eyes. To reduce your risk of getting sick, make sure to wash your hands before touching your face and before eating.

3. Take vitamins
Vitamins help provide the body with nutrition it isn’t otherwise getting, which in tern can help fight off germs that may cause illness as the body has the appropriate resources to fight back. This is very helpful in the winter as some people do not get the appropriate amount of vitamin D from the sun. This is a result of colder weather generally keeping people inside during the winter months.