I used to be the kind of person who’d stock up on tissues and cough drops the second someone at work sniffled. Didn’t matter if it was July or January—if a bug was going around, I was next. Like clockwork.
And honestly? I just thought that was how life worked. Get cold. Get better. Repeat. Maybe whine a little. Pop some vitamin C and hope for the best. But one winter—after my third round of the flu in four months—I hit a wall. Or maybe I face-planted into it.
Something had to change.
That was the moment I got weirdly obsessed with preventing colds and the flu. Not in a germaphobic, wipe-every-surface kind of way (okay, maybe a little). But I started treating “not getting sick” like a personal challenge. Could I actually hack my daily habits and avoid the misery?
Spoiler alert: kinda, yeah.
🍊 The Food Thing Was Harder Than I Thought
So let’s talk food. Everyone says, “Eat fruits and veggies!” like it’s just that easy. But I grew up on boxed mac n’ cheese and frozen burritos. The only “green” in my diet was probably some rogue mold.
But I started simple. Swapped my sad desk lunch with salads that didn’t taste like sadness. Added a fruit or two (even if it was just a banana and some berries in yogurt).
And weirdly, I noticed something: I craved junk less. Like, I wasn’t constantly rummaging for snacks an hour later. Maybe all those antioxidants and vitamins actually do something? Wild thought.
😴 Sleep Is Everything — But No One Talks About It
Let me tell you — nothing helped more than sleep. REAL sleep. Not scrolling-TikTok-til-1AM sleep.
I started setting an actual bedtime like I was five years old. Bought blackout curtains. Hid my phone in a drawer across the room (risky move, but necessary).
Guess what? I didn’t wake up with that gross “ugh-I-think-I’m-getting-sick” feeling anymore. And I had energy. Like… actual human energy.
Turns out, your immune system literally builds its defenses while you sleep. Who knew? (Okay, probably scientists. But still.)
🧘♀️ Stress — The Silent Cold Inviter
Okay, this part is tricky. I’m not a “woo-woo” person. Meditation? Crystals? That stuff used to make me roll my eyes so hard I saw my brain.
But stress? It was killing me slowly — and making me sick. I’d get worked up over emails. Deadlines. Group chats. You name it.
So I started journaling. Like… actually putting pen to paper and unloading all the chaos in my head. Sometimes I’d doodle. Sometimes I’d just write, “UGH” fifteen times.
And I’d go outside. Even for five minutes. Just me and some trees and a podcast about cults (balance, right?). It helped. A lot. Less stress = fewer colds. Go figure.
☕ Green Tea & Me: A Love-Hate Thing
Let me be honest: I didn’t love green tea at first. It tasted like grass water. But it made me feel like I was doing something good for my body, and apparently, it’s got antibacterial properties?
So I kept at it. Found a blend with lemon and honey that didn’t make me gag. Drank it mid-morning instead of my third coffee. And you know what? I didn’t feel as sluggish. It became a cozy little ritual—especially on rainy days.
Still don’t love the taste. But I tolerate it. Like cardio.
💉 The Vaccine Thing (Let’s Just Talk About It)
Look—I used to skip the flu shot. Every year. Mostly out of laziness or this internal voice going, “Eh, I’m healthy enough.”
Bad idea. One year, I got the flu the WEEK before a big trip. Ruined everything.
Now? I get my flu shot like clockwork. Usually early October. Takes five minutes and saves me from days of misery and soup that tastes like regret.
🧼 Hygiene: Not Sexy, But It Works
Yes, I wash my hands like I’m prepping for surgery. Yes, I carry sanitizer everywhere like it’s lip balm. No, I don’t care if people think I’m being dramatic.
Because every time I forget to clean my hands before touching my face or sharing snacks or pressing elevator buttons? Bam. Sore throat. Runny nose. Instant regret.
Also, toothbrushes. I started replacing mine every time I got over being sick. Sounds extra, but once I did that, my colds stopped bouncing back.
Coincidence? Maybe. But I’m not messing with the system now.
🍷 About Alcohol (Yeah, That Was a Surprise)
I didn’t expect this one, but… drinking less actually helped. I’m not a big drinker, but I’d have a glass of wine here and there after work. Sometimes two.
Cutting back gave me better sleep. And better sleep gave me fewer colds. Simple as that.
I still drink — just not out of habit anymore. And never when I feel run down. Learned that the hard way. One wine-fueled night out? Followed by five days of coughing and self-pity.
Never again.
😶🌫️ Things I Messed Up (So You Don’t Have To)
Let’s be real. I didn’t suddenly become some flu-proof ninja overnight.
Mistakes I made:
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Buying cheap supplements without checking ingredients (some were basically chalk)
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Overdoing it with vitamins — made my stomach feel like a washing machine
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Stressing myself about stress — not helpful
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Forgetting to clean my phone. Honestly, that thing is filthier than a public bathroom.
🤔 Wait — Does This Actually Work?
You’re probably wondering: did I really stop getting sick?
Well… not completely. Life happens. I got one cold last year. But it was light. Two days of a sore throat and I bounced back. No full-on flu. No week-long couch quarantine.
For me, that’s a massive win.
💬 Bottom Line?
Preventing colds and the flu isn’t about being perfect. It’s about stacking tiny habits that give your body a fighting chance.
Eat like someone who doesn’t want to feel like crap. Sleep like it’s your job. Say no to one more episode if it means better rest. Manage your stress (even if it’s just screaming into a pillow or doing weird crafts). And seriously—wash your dang hands.
I’m not saying you’ll become invincible. But you might just survive winter without turning into a mucus monster. Worth a shot, right?
Want to know which of these worked best for me personally? Or got any weird immunity tricks I should try? Drop them. I’m always testing new ways to dodge the sniffles.
