Habits that make you sick easily
If you are often tired and sick, check to see if you have the following habits.
Arbitrary schedule
One of the biggest causes of stress isn’t finances or marriage, but lack of routine. Even something as simple as eating lunch an hour later than usual can spike levels of the stress hormone cortisol and disrupt your body’s ideal state.
Try to eat, sleep, and exercise at the same times every day, 365 days a year.
Select out-of-season fruits and vegetables, long-distance shipping
During the time it takes to travel from farm to market, produce loses many of its disease-fighting compounds. Buy fresh, local, or seasonal produce. Otherwise, buy frozen, pre-cooked varieties at their peak of ripeness to retain nutrients.
Just exercise
Even if you exercise vigorously, spending the rest of the day sitting can affect your cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure. Find small ways to move throughout the day, including clever ways to stay in shape without having to go outside.
High heels
You know high heels are uncomfortable, but pain from wearing them is also a sign of inflammation linked to chronic disease. While doctors don’t say high heels cause heart attacks, they do believe wearing comfortable shoes can protect you from long-term damage from inflammation.
Bite nails
Nail biting isn't just a bad habit; it can wreak havoc on your health. In a small Turkish study, 76 percent of nail biters tested positive for diarrhea- and vomiting-causing bacteria like Escherichia coli, compared to just 26.5 percent of non-nail biters.
Boring lunch at the desk
Offices are breeding grounds for germs—and unfortunately, computer keyboards are one of the germiest places. In fact, a 2013 study found that in just one day, more than 50% of surfaces and employees can become contaminated with viruses.
Eating lunch outside (or at least away from your desk) can greatly reduce the amount of bacteria you're exposed to every day.
Smoking
If the risk of cancer isn't enough to make you quit, here's another reason: Smoking can impair immune function, making you more susceptible to the flu, colds, or pneumonia.
Do not wash the sheets
The bad news: Dust mites love your warm, dark bed as much as you do. While they themselves are harmless, their droppings and dead skin flakes can trigger allergic reactions and asthma, according to the Daily Mail. To keep these unwelcome guests at bay, change your sheets regularly.
Lack of sleep
While we should be getting 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night, only half of Americans hit that goal. However, cutting back on sleep can have more of an impact than just a drop in energy levels. Not getting enough sleep can leave you more susceptible to illness, since your cells can’t fully recharge while you sleep. As an added bonus, you may also lose weight while you sleep.
