It’s no secret that people’s health tends to be more compromised in winter. Things like the flu, common cold, allergies, and other conditions increase, but there are ways that you can protect yourself. Follow these five tips and reduce your chances of catching every illness that you come in contact with.

Wash Your Hands Frequently

If you’ve heard this one once, you’ve heard it a thousand times. You need to keep your hands clean at all times to prevent germs from spreading not only to others but also to yourself. Experts recommend that after blowing your nose, sneezing, coughing, using the restroom, or before cooking or eating, you should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds.

When cleaning your hands, use water that’s as warm as you can handle, and make sure the soap gets scrubbed into all areas including in between your fingers, around your cuticles, and underneath your fingernails.

Using Anti-Bacterial Wipes

Chances are, if you’re like most, you like to go out and get a meal with friends and loved ones once in a while. It’s estimated that 20% of individuals go out to eat once per week, while 45% hit their favorite restaurants several times in the same seven-day period. While it’s a great way to enjoy the company of those you like spending time with and get some good grub once in a while, consider who was sitting in the space you’re in before you got there.

You never know what kinds of bacteria or illnesses those individuals are carrying around, and you can’t always count on the employees at the restaurant to thoroughly clean the area. It’s easy to take an anti-bacterial wipe out of your bag and do a quick wipe of the table and chairs. Make sure you do a good inspection of the silverware, glasses, and other items on the table. Don’t hesitate to ask for something new if you notice a dirty item. It’s your health at stake, after all!

Drink Plenty of Water

It’s essential to stay hydrated at all times, but even more important during winter. Keeping your body hydrated ensures that your immune system is in peak condition, and you’ll be less likely to catch a bug that’s being spread around. The only way you could go wrong with water is by drinking impure water. According to Forbes, water that is unsafe will give you warning signs like an unusual taste, sediment present, or cloudiness. If you notice any of these features in the liquid, dump it out and seek another source.

Get Plenty of Exercise

If you like to exercise outdoors and the winter months bring cold weather, it can be a challenge to get out and get your workout in. However, it’s vital that you continue with your regimen as closely as possible. Check out gyms in your area and see what’s available. Another option is getting simple equipment to use at home.

Take Your Vitamins

Whether it’s a daily vitamin or a specific set of vitamins that you take, make sure that you don’t skip any days. Your body needs extra help in the winter more than ever. If you’re not sure what vitamins you need, ask a professional. Along with vitamins, if your area tends to stay dark and gloomy throughout the winter, check out sun lamps. They give you a boost of vitamin D you’re missing because of the overcast weather. Sunlamps are helpful if you typically get down or depressed when there is a lower number of sunny days.

While these are tips to keep your health in check during the winter, you can implement them all year long, too. There’s never a bad time to start taking care of yourself!