The novel coronavirus has changed life in ways that was previously unimaginable. After all, it’s been over a century since the last major pandemic struck the United States. As the pandemic lingers on, many people are being required to return to the workplace. COVID-19 has shown to have highs and lows as far infection rates, and when infection rates trend downward, many companies are taking that opportunity to gain some ground on productivity. If you have to return to your place of work, you can also stay safe so long as you take the necessary precautions. Here are some tips to help you maintain safety as the world awaits a vaccine or cure for COVID-19.
8 Ways to Stay Healthy While Returning to Work
1. Be Mindful of Your Nutritional Intake
During a pandemic it is especially important to eat healthy 
and make sure you are getting all your vitamins and minerals. What it boils down to is the healthier your body is, the better it is at fighting off infection. That’s because when your health is optimal your immune system is at it’s best. Your nutritional intake should consist of proteins, carbohydrates, and at least 6 servings a day of fruits and vegetables to make sure you’re getting plenty of vitamins and minerals.
Most people won’t want to track what they’re putting into their body each day, as life is busy enough. If you aren’t sure you’re getting the right dose of nutrients, and it can be easy to go off track, then supplement your diet. Find a supplement that has vitamins and minerals that increase your energy while boosting immunological function. If you aren’t sure which supplement is right for you, experiment. Use a Nucific coupon code to save on your first purchase.
2. Get Your Flu Vaccination
Unfortunately, it is also flu season. Be sure you get your flu vaccination before returning to the workplace. While the flu vaccine won’t protect you from the coronavirus, it will protect you from the likelihood of suffering from both at the same time. Also, the more people who are protected against the flu, the less likely it is to spread and overwhelm hospitals that are already overwhelmed. When you get vaccinate, you aren’t just protecting yourself, you’re contributing to the whole of society.
3. Bring the Hand Sanitizer
Returning to work means coming into direct contact with multiple sources of germs and bacteria. This includes door handles, restrooms, countertops, coffee stations, printers, and elevators. There is simply no getting around coming in contact with these surfaces, which is why it’s important to have defense.
While it’s likely your workplace will offer hand sanitizer to employees, it’s also likely that it’s going to be a hot commodity and run low or completely out often. If you have your own hand sanitizer, then you never have to fear running out.
Another benefit of having your own hand sanitizer is you might need it on your way to or home from work, such as when you stop to refuel or grab coffee. Just remember to never leave hand sanitizer in your automobile. As the heat builds it could cause the alcohol in your hand sanitizer to evaporate, and the alcohol is a necessary ingredient for keeping you safe.
4. Avoid Close Contact
Mask or no mask, your safest bet for avoiding COVID-19 is to avoid people. If you see people gathered in the break room, then don’t enter it until it has been cleared for several minutes. If it’s possible, position your desk so that it requires anyone who approaches you to stand at a distance of several feet away. While the CDC recommends a distance of at least 6 feet, this isn’t always possible when the other person isn’t following the recommended guidelines, and a lot of people don’t.
5. Wear a Mask
You’ve been hearing it since early on in the pandemic: Wear a mask. Ideally, for the best effectiveness, everyone should wear a mask. If your workplace doesn’t require it, go ahead and wear one anyway. Others who might fear being different will also be more likely to wear their mask if they see someone else doing it.
The most protective masks offer two layers of protection. While you may not need it while you’re at your desk or workstation, you should always wear it when you’re walking among your co-workers or entering the restroom.
6. Communicate With Your Employer
Not everyone has the same ideas about the health risks associated with coronavirus. That can make it difficult to maintain a level of safety that is acceptable for everyone. If you feel your health is not being prioritized, talk with your employer about your concerns. Your employer can strengthen and enforce safety protocols. They can also communicate with the entire team to make sure everyone is working together to ensure everyone’s safety.
Everyone has different ideas of what the current safety protocols should be. The best way to agree and work out a strategy in your workplace is to refer to the CDC’s recommended guidelines. They have the latest knowledge and scientific data to ensure people can keep themselves and their families safe.
7. Wipe Down Surfaces
It’s a good idea to keep anti-bacterial cleaners in stations with surfaces touched by multiple people. Use them often. If you’re going to be in the printing station for a while, wipe it down before you spend time there. When you’re in the break room, go ahead and wipe down the countertops, refrigerator door, and coffee pot handles. You don’t know when it was last wiped down, and it can’t be wiped down enough. By tackling germs before they are allowed to spread, you could be saving a life.
8. Returning Home
While you may feel safe when you return to your home at the end of the day, you are not exactly safe until you remove the clothing items you’ve worn that day and put them in the wash. You should also wash your mask. In fact, have several mask in case the one you wash isn’t yet dry by the time you leave the next day. Lastly, go ahead and shower.
If you have a work bag, unless you are wiling to wipe it down as well, leave it in your car if possible, but out of sight, because you don’t want someone breaking into your car in an attempt to steal it. Your bag could be a hotbed of germs.
Just as you can pick up germs on your hands and fingers, your clothes can also carry germs. While viruses don’t have a long lifespan outside the body, if you’ve got people living with you who are at high risk of having a negative outcome from the virus, it’s always better to be safe.
The coronavirus won’t last forever, but it looks like it could be around for at least several more months. As people lose patience with social distancing and wearing masks, remind them them the country is at least halfway through this and soon enough life will return to normal. With patience and practice, fewer people will become severely ill, and fewer people will experience loss of loved ones. The more safety protocols that are put in place, the longer everyone can maintain a safe workplace.
