Your health is incredibly important, and if you value it, you should take steps each day to keep your body healthy and to avoid getting sick. As hard as you may try, it is impossible to avoid coming into contact with germs. But you can be proactive and take steps to lower the likelihood that sickness will take hold and interrupt your daily life. Use these ideas to fend off germs and keep yourself from getting sick.

Wash Your Hands Often

Germs can be transmitted from the surfaces you touch every day. Washing your hands often is one of the most well-known ways to get rid of germs that could make you sick. Washing your hands for a minimum of twenty seconds with soap and water dilutes and rinses away germs and bacteria. Make sure you wash all parts of your hands including your wrists and under your nails.

Avoid Touching Certain Surfaces

Things like door handles and credit card keypads are touched by hundreds of people each day. This makes them prime locations for germs that could put your health at risk. They are, however, largely unavoidable in your daily life. Consider using a handkerchief or tissue when opening door handles. You could also invest in a grab hook with rubber tip to touch these high-traffic surfaces. The added protection can help prevent the spread of germs.

Use Hand Sanitizer

Sometimes you do not have quick and easy access to a sink or soap to wash your hands. Carrying alcohol-based hand sanitizer or cleaning wipes could prove helpful in these situations. They could be used on their own or after washing your hands for added assurance. When purchasing sanitizer, look for alcohol-based formulas. Alcohol-based cleaning products are highly effective at killing germs that could make you sick.

Do Not Touch Your Face

Germs enter the body through the eyes, nose, and mouth. The less you touch these areas, the lower the chance germs will be transferred from your hands into your body. While this may seem like an easy task, touching the face is a well-ingrained habit for most people. From rubbing your eyes when you are tired to scratching your nose, you will find that stopping these behaviors requires careful attention and persistence. The payoff, however, will be worth it.

In addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, monitoring your diet and exercising, it is important to take steps that help you prevent sickness. Use these tips as a guide to help you avoid germs and prevent you from falling ill.