Practice Management

There was a time in my life when I think I always had a cold.  Mainly it was when my kids were younger.  It got a little better when I got older (or they got older).  It was a frustrating situation because my kids would seem to have the cold or flu for a day or two, and then it would seem I would have it for a week or two and come close to having my last rites given me.  Mine was aggravated by allergies and asthma.

A few years ago, I finally wised up and decided that I was sick and tired or being sick and tired.  I sat down and made a few little changes.

First, I learned the differences between a cold and virus.

Second, I came to understand the need to wash my hands often and aggressively.   No fast wash in the restroom.  What you learn is that soap does not kill germs.  What the soap does is loosen the germs so that they wash off your hands.  So, just to pass your hands under the sink quickly does little good.  The anti-bacterial lotions do kill most germs.  I mainly use both.  I wash my hands with the anit-bacterial lotions and then I wash them off with soap and water.  I do this multiple times a day, every day.  I wash my hands when I get to court and before I leave.  I wash my hands after Mass.

Third, I get a flu shot every year.  People claim to get the flu all of the time, but it is not really the flu.   I have had both, and I can tell you there is nothing like the flu.  People do die from it.  People gripe that the flu shot is not 100% effective.  So what?  It is effective most of the time, and I can tell the difference.  I also gripe at everyone in my family to do the same.

Fourth, I need to get a pneumonia shot.  I have not yet, but I intend to do it this year.

Fifth, I have quit taking my allergies for granted.  I take a Claritin substitute every day.

Sixth, I concern myself with well used surfaces.  ABC News just reported on some of these.  You need to remember to clean them once in a while.  Some are:

1.  Remote control;
2.  Laundry machines;
3.  Purses and wallets;
4.  Cutting boards;
5.  Phones:
6.  Water fountains or coolers;
7.  Shopping carts;
8.  Keyboards;
9.  Toothbrush handles;
10. And more.

Again, like with your hands, you need to clean these well.

As a result, apart from a light case of the sniffles, I cannot remember when in recent memory that I have been sick.

It is something that is easy to incorporate in your life.

Especially in the home office life, you can control germs better and stay more healthy.