Last fall I asked my doctor how I could avoid my annual month of cold/flu downtime, and she said “wash your hands a lot and stop touching your face.” I bought

Last fall I asked my doctor how I could avoid my annual month of cold/flu downtime, and she said “wash your hands a lot and stop touching your face.” I bought a container of sanitizer for my desk, I carry a smaller one in the car and another in my jacket pocket, and I try to be conscious of using it any time I come out of a public space (the bathroom, grocery store, restaurants or cafes, the water cooler). When I have to scratch my face (which is frequently because of anxiety and slight dermatitis) I use my sleeve or try to ensure I’ve sanitized my hands since the last time I was exposed. It hasn’t been as difficult as I’m making it sound here, and this is the first winter in a decade that I haven’t been sick, knock on wood. If you catch bugs easily, I recommend trying to be mindful of cleaning your hands for a season to see how it goes.