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winter vacation

Staying healthy through the winter – easier said than done.

healthy-livingWelcome to that time of year, where your house becomes a living, moving, breathing Petri dish. Wherever we go, hockey rinks, Christmas concerts, basketball games or going out caroling (Do people still do that?); there are sick people that will make a point to sneeze and cough in your general direction. If they’re miserable, they want to make sure everyone else is miserable as well. Kidding! It just seems like that when we are healthy. 

So how do we stay healthy through the winter? If I had the magic formula, I would likely not be writing this blog, but would rather be making a ton of money as a doctor or naturopath. That being said, those are the people you want to talk to when it comes to preventative medicine or flu shots or things of that nature. However, here is my two cents on some natural methods.

healthy-living-1-5Wash your hands

This may be something so simple that it probably gets forgotten. In case you didn’t notice, we touch everything. Door knobs, cutlery, countertops, bathrooms, our faces, etc. Germs travel around like your gypsy Aunt Catherine – “when will she ever settle down?” So it is important to wash our hands to stop the germs from spreading.

Drinking Water

We live in a society of energy drinks, coffee, beer and booster juice. These things have their place when you need a pick me up. But nothing helps replenish our body than drinking plenty of water. 6-8 glasses is what is recommended. This will help with your digestion and keep up your hydration. After all, our body is made up of 60% water, we should try and keep it up there. For men, the other 40% is hot air & gas, but who’s keeping track.

healthy-living-2Vitamin C

This happens to be the most powerful immune boosting vitamin around. It is found in many fruits and vegetables: Oranges, broccoli, Kiwi, Red & Green Peppers, Strawberries, etc. You can also purchase some chewable vitamin c tablets in most health food stores; if you need the extra kick. Taking a good quality multi-vitamin will also contain Vitamin C alongside other supplements.

healthy-living-4Activity

It is important to stay active. Continuing with your exercises will help you stay fit, but will help boost your immune system function, decrease your stress level and keep your weight down. It is almost like the doctor recommends it. I wish binge watching netflix with a tub of ice cream was one of the recommendations. Just once!

We take our health for granted when we feel good. So let’s try and take some steps so that we don’t have to catch that dreaded “Men’s Cold” where we are knocked out for a day (woman) or month (man). Be proactive and keep yourself healthy and strong this winter.

 

If you’re staying home or heading south this winter; plan ahead.

Winter Vacation Blocks AgenciesPeople around the world often wonder how we survive the harsh winter in this “Arctic circle” that we call “Canada.” Jim Carrey had a great comedy set on what it is like to live in Canada from his earlier stand-up comedy days. I have attached the link here for your enjoyment.

It is all about preparation. Parking your car in your garage (if you have one), or plugging it in outside. You need to buy all the gear –  jacket, toque, mittens, boots, ski pants and keeping those with you at all times. You never want to be caught without those items if you have vehicle trouble in a cold winter day in Canada. Winter seems to drag on, (as the movie “Canadian Bacon” would infer, 11 months of the year) so make sure you enjoy the winter activities to pass the time. Otherwise, if you dread winter, it’ll just make it longer. That’s a fact.

If you are able, some people like to save their money and go on a winter holiday to escape this cold weather. Mexico, Hawaii, Cuba, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Florida, California are a few hot spots (literally). This helps to break up the winter nicely, so what do you need to know before you go on this vacation.

Surfing Block's AgenciesMake sure you scout out your destination. Many places were hit hard by the recent hurricanes. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those affected. Please help them out in any way you can as they work to rebuild. Next, check out the resort rating. Each resort has different amenities, so it’s important to do some research on what they offer beforehand. If you are a beach bum, make sure their beach is top-notch. If you are a “foodie,” make sure the resort has highly rated cuisine and a number of good restaurants nearby. Don’t expect all resorts to be the same and offer the same experience. Some are designed for younger people, some are for older people and some are for families; so pick the one that fits you best. 

Once you have the resort you need to plan your luggage, flights, etc. This can be done easily online or through a travel agent, if you want reassurance. Travel agents will suggest other things you may not think about. Such as Trip Cancellation Insurance, Lost Baggage & Health Insurance. We can offer these options in our office as well.

We have a variety of companies that we can offer to help out with your needs. Such as Blue Cross, Group Medical (GMS) and Allianz Global Assistance. Please give us a call before your trip so we can set this up in advance. The last thing you want is to get hurt or sick on your vacation and end up with a medical bill that costs more than your trip itself.

We hope you enjoy this winter, whether you stick around in the cold and play some hockey or go to Hawaii to find some ‘gnarly’ waves. We want you to be prepared and stay safe.