Winter is approaching and the holidays are right around the corner. You’re in the holiday spirit, but suddenly a fever hits and you’re out of commission for a week. Your best friends are a box of tissues and a good decongestant. You’d do ANYTHING to gain your energy back and feel your normal self again.

The flu is no joke, and it can even be a serious threat to your health. It’s not impossible to avoid this seasonal illness, even when it seems like everyone is infected with it. If you outsmart the flu with these easy tips, you can dodge the dreadful virus this winter.

Here are some vital tips to naturally avoid the flu:

1. WASH YOUR HANDS FREQUENTLY

Germs are everywhere, literally. We never know where the bad ones might be hanging out. Wash your hands after touching anything, and even just sporadically throughout the day.

2. DON’T TOUCH YOUR FACE

The easiest way for germs to access our inner bodies is through our mouth and nose. We commonly touch our faces without even realizing it, and this is the perfect opportunity for germs to infest.

3. DON’T SHARE EATING UTENSILS WITH ANYONE

Even if someone seems perfectly healthy, that doesn’t mean they aren’t infected with the flu. After the virus enters the body, symptoms don’t come on instantly. It takes anywhere from one to four days after infection to even notice the symptoms.

4. A FLU SHOT DOES NOT MEAN YOU CAN’T GET THE FLU

Many think they can disregard precautionary steps because they got the flu shot, so they “can’t get the flu.” Wrong. The flu shot reduces the chance of contracting the virus, but many people have still contracted the flu. With that being said, keep your distance from those who are already infected, and continue to wash your hands.

5. DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOURSELF WHILE CARING FOR SICK LOVED-ONES

When our loved-ones, especially a child, comes down with an illness, parents’ first instinct is to be their personal nurse and attend to them at all times. Then, soon enough they come down with the flu as well and no one can cater to them because they’re all sick as well. Don’t touch, hug, or share any personal belongings with those who are sick with the flu, especially during the first week of their illness. Since the infection is at its peak during the first three to four days following the start of the virus, this is when others are most susceptible to contracting the illness from those who have it.

Common illnesses can be just as dangerous as serious childrens injuries, which parents never ignore, and many other serious illnesses. Don’t ignore the flu, either. If you or a loved-one start feeling under the weather, don’t hesitate to take a trip to an urgent care center. You don’t need an appointment, as they are almost always walk-in clinics. They treat patients of any age, so don’t worry about finding an alternative option that offers urgent care for kids. These are the best option for childrens injuries, illnesses, or any condition that doesn’t require a whole day in the emergency room. Stop on your way home from work, or before going grocery shopping to get the necessary treatment to minimize the symptoms during the worst of it.

Minor childrens injuries, illnesses that aren’t considered a medical emergency, and even a mysterious ache or pain can be treated at an urgent care center.

Even though the flu is common, it’s not always the same strand of the virus. This means it can be more threatening to your health than it was last year. The flu always poses the possibility of complications, being the reason for an average of 200,000 hospitalizations of patients each year in America. Children and the elderly are especially susceptible to complications, and if your child gets the flu you should not pay any less attention to it than you would for severe childrens injuries.

Your health is crucial, and these simple tips can save you from misery!