Cold and Flu Season Survival
Cold and flu season can feel like a revolving door.
One person starts coughing. Someone else wakes up with a sore throat. Suddenly, you’re washing blankets, cancelling plans, and wondering how one family can possibly use this many tissues.
While we can’t completely avoid every bug that comes our way, we can prepare our homes and routines before sickness hits.
Here are 5 simple ways to prepare your family for cold and flu season without turning your house into a medical supply warehouse.
1. Make Handwashing Ridiculously Easy
Good handwashing is still one of the simplest things we can do during cold and flu season.
Encourage everyone to wash their hands with soap and clean running water for at least 20 seconds—especially after coming home, before eating, after coughing or sneezing, and after using the bathroom.
Keep soap stocked at every sink so nobody has an excuse.
One of My Favorites: Thieves Foaming Hand Soap
I love Young Living Thieves Foaming Hand Soap because it’s an easy swap for our everyday handwashing routine.
It smells amazing, it’s easy to use, and it’s one of those simple changes that doesn’t require adding another complicated step to my day.
2. Clean the High-Touch Spots
You don’t have to clean your entire house every twelve minutes.
Instead, concentrate on the places everyone touches:
- Doorknobs
- Light switches
- Faucets
- Remote controls
- Phones
- Refrigerator handles
- Bathroom surfaces
Regular cleaning helps remove dirt and germs from surfaces.
One of My Favorites: Thieves Household Cleaner (here’s a link to Thieves Cleaning Wipes) =)
Young Living Thieves Household Cleaner is one of my household staples because one concentrated bottle can be diluted for everyday cleaning throughout the home.
And honestly?
If I can use one cleaner in multiple rooms instead of owning 14 different bottles, I’m happy.
3. Support the Basics: Sleep, Food and Hydration
There isn’t a magic product that replaces taking care of your body.
Sometimes the simplest things are the things we overlook:
Sleep. Water. Nutritious food. Movement. Rest.
Keep water bottles handy, stock easy nourishing foods, and give yourself permission to slow down when your body needs it.
Cold and flu season is also a good time to take a look at your family’s schedule.
Are you getting enough sleep?
Are you drinking enough water?
Are you eating actual meals—or surviving on coffee and whatever you found in the car?
No judgment. I’ve been there.
4. Stock Your Sick-Day Supplies BEFORE You Need Them
There is nothing fun about realizing you’re out of tissues at 11:30 p.m. when somebody isn’t feeling well.
Before cold and flu season gets into full swing, create a simple sick-day basket.
Consider stocking:
- Thermometer
- Cough drops
- Tissues
- Humidifier
- Electrolyte drinks
- Soup or broth
- Honey
- Tea
- Easy-to-prepare foods
- Any medications your family normally uses
Check expiration dates while you’re at it.
Future-you will be very grateful.
FREE: Mom’s Cold & Flu Season Checklist
Want to make this even easier?
I’ve created a FREE Mom’s Cold & Flu Season Checklist so you don’t have to remember everything yourself.
Use it to get your medicine cabinet, pantry, cleaning supplies and sick-day essentials ready before somebody wakes up feeling miserable.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE MOM’S COLD & FLU SEASON CHECKLIST HERE →
Print it out, check off what you already have, and keep it somewhere handy throughout the season.
Because when somebody gets sick, the last thing Mom needs is another thing to figure out.
5. Create a Simple Wellness Routine
Consistency beats having 47 products sitting in a cabinet that nobody remembers to use.
Choose a few healthy habits your family can realistically maintain.
One of my personal favorites is Young Living NingXia Red, a wolfberry-based antioxidant drink.
It’s an easy addition to my regular wellness routine, and I genuinely enjoy drinking it.
NingXia Red isn’t a treatment or prevention for colds or flu. It’s simply one of the products I enjoy as part of my overall healthy lifestyle. It is an asset for immune support during cold and flu season.
My 3 Cold & Flu Season Home Favorites
If you’re trying to keep things simple, you don’t need an enormous order.
I’d start with just three:
1. Thieves Household Cleaner
A concentrated cleaner that I use throughout my home. I love having one product that can replace several different cleaners in my cleaning cabinet.
2. Thieves Foaming Hand Soap
An incredibly easy swap because we’re already washing our hands anyway. I keep it by the sinks so it’s convenient for everyone.
3. NingXia Red
A wolfberry-based antioxidant drink that’s become one of my favorite additions to my regular wellness routine.
That’s it.
You don’t need a cabinet overflowing with products.
Simple systems are much easier to maintain than complicated ones.
Ready to Prepare Your Home?
You don’t have to wait until the first person in your family gets sick to start preparing.
Start now.
Stock your sick-day supplies.
Get everyone back into good handwashing habits.
Prioritize sleep, hydration and nourishing foods.
Simplify your cleaning routine.
And create a wellness routine your family can realistically stick with.
If you’d like to try the three Young Living products I personally use, I’ve made it easy for you.
SHOP MY COLD & FLU SEASON FAVORITES →
And don’t forget your free checklist!
DOWNLOAD THE FREE MOM’S COLD & FLU SEASON CHECKLIST →
You don’t need a perfect wellness routine.
You just need to start.
Small habits add up.
Talk soon – Jenn
PS For more natural solutions, check out the post How To Reduce Chemicals in The Home.
Check out our shop by need page for easy solutions to common issues.
All of this should help get. through this year’s cold and flu season. Stay well.
