Tips for Staying Healthy While Running Errands When the Latest Bug Is Going Around

covid 19

COVID-19 has made us rethink our daily habits. When we normally would have taken a quick trip to the local store or spent the afternoon browsing our favorite shops, we now pause and consider whether that trip is really necessary. One quick trip out to the store to pick up a few things could expose you to coronavirus and make you sick.

However, it’s not just COVID-19 you should be thinking about. Flu season comes with many illnesses that you don’t want to experience. No matter what virus you’re trying to avoid, there are things you can do to stay healthy while you’re out of the house running errands.

 

Know How to Protect Yourself From Germs

The very best thing you can do is know how to protect yourself from germs when you’re out and about in the world, especially when you consider the fact that the flu virus can live on hard surfaces for up to eight hours. Just a few tips include:

Make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date, which includes getting the flu shot
Wash your hands several times a day and use hand sanitizer when you aren’t near a sink
Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose until you’ve had a chance to wash your hands
Avoid touching common surfaces, like ATMs, door handles, and pens
Sanitize items, like shopping carts, before using them
Wear a mask when social distancing isn’t an option

Only Go on Necessary Trips

It’s easy to want to get out and go to your favorite store on a whim, but when you’re worried about the latest bug that’s going around, it’s a good idea to think a little more carefully about whether that trip is necessary or not.

While a virus is spreading, you should go on necessary trips only. That means running to the grocery store, stopping by the gas station, or heading to the local clothing store to purchase essentials, like underwear.

Having a hard time reducing the trips you take to local stores? Consider shopping online. You can even order your groceries online and pick them up or have them delivered right to your door.

 

Make a List to Keep Your Trip Short

If you have more than just a few items to grab, you should walk into the store with a list. Not only will having a list help you avoid frustration when trying to remember what you came to get, but it also has the potential to keep you healthy and safe.

Having a list ensures you pick up everything you need in a single trip. That way, you don’t have to make a second trip to the store to pick up whatever it is you forgot.

A list can also prevent you from doing any impulse shopping. You’ll go down only the aisles you need without wasting more time in the store wandering around looking at things you shouldn’t be buying.

 

Know When to Go Out

It’s important to avoid large crowds if you want to avoid getting sick when you’re out and about. You can’t always predict how many people are going to be there when you get to the store. However, there are things you can do to reduce the likelihood of running into a crowd when you go shopping.

Going early or going late is usually better than going during the middle of the day on the weekends. During the week, avoid going to the store around five when people are getting off of work. If you show up at the store and there’s a crowd, consider leaving and coming back at another time.

 

Leave Your Family at Home

It can be a lot more fun to go shopping with other people, but if you’re worried about getting sick, it’s much better to go shopping by yourself.

When you go shopping with your family, you’re more likely to spend more time in the store than you would if you went by yourself. It also exposes more of your family to germs, and if one catches an illness, you can bet that the rest of your household will end up getting sick too. Not to mention, little kids like to touch things they shouldn’t, which makes them a magnet for germs!

Just because the latest bug is going around doesn’t mean you should be stuck at home. You can go out into the world safely when you follow the tips on this list.

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    I’M KAREN NIGHTINGALE!

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