February 2020: The Monthly Round-Up

Anyone else glad that January is over and we made it to February 2020?

January was a doozy for me (and the world, it seems).

While it started out gangbusters – 2 new countries! A work shoot in the Maldives! – the second half was miserable. Mostly, I was in bed, sick with a sore throat, head cold, and cough.

Subsequently, I was diagnosed with a sinus infection and got antibiotics. Now I feel 100 times better. I know there’s a lot of pressure for us to not use antibiotics because of the danger of superbugs, but sometimes you need drugs to get well.

That said, this bout of illness got me thinking about how I can stay healthier on the road because I will be doing A LOT of travel this year. So in this month’s round-up, I’m including tips on how you can stay healthy, whether you’re sticking close to home or traveling like me.

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February 2020: the Monthly Round-Up

Winter is the time of year when most of us get sick. However, there are things you can do to boost your immune system and stay healthy. These are the hacks I’m adding to my daily regimen. Take a look, because they might work for you as well.

Healthy Habits for February 2020:

• Probiotics – I took one for a while but then got lazy about it. Fully back on the horse now.
• Ashwagandha – This is an ancient Ayurvedic medicinal herb that people swear by for keeping them healthy. I’m giving it a go.
• Activated Charcoal – I’m adding this to my toiletry bag and will start using it at the first sign of an upset stomach.
• Headspace – I’ve been meditating on and off for some time now. This app will help me stick to it and reduce my stress and anxiety.
• Hydration – I’m usually pretty good about drinking a lot of water, but with all the travel I’m doing, I will be adding Nuun supplements to my hydration game.

Let’s be honest. With all of the news about the Coronavirus, plus the fact that it’s flu season, getting on a plane can feel like a scary proposition. If you have to fly, below are specific tips to help you stay healthy and germ-free.

(If you’re interested in all of my tips on how to have a comfortable flight, read this.)

Cleanliness Tips for Travel:

• As soon as you board, wipe down your entire seat area with disinfecting wipes. And I mean everything – the armrests, the seat belt, the tray table (studies have shown that the tray tables can carry more germs than the bathrooms because they aren’t cleaned as frequently), the TV screen, and even the interior wall of the plane if you’re in a window seat.
• Wash your hands often, for at least 15 seconds, and carry an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with you. Keeping your hands clean is actually the top recommendation from the World Health Organization and the CDC to help prevent the spread of a virus, even more so than wearing a mask.
• Open the air vent above you and aim it towards your face to breathe in filtered air. Most airplanes today recycle their air through a series of HEPA filters 20-30 times per hour. The filters are hospital grade and capable of removing 99.9% of bacteria, therefore you’re better off breathing the air coming from the vents than the stale air circulating in your area of the plane.
• If you’re sitting near someone who has a cough and cold, change your seat. If that’s not possible, wear a mask. Worst case scenario, ask them to cover their mouths when they sneeze/cough if they aren’t doing so already.

Ok, now to the fun stuff I’m looking forward to this February 2020!

Planning my bucket list trips for the year, including the Philippines! Which destinations are you hoping to visit?

I can’t wait to see this sequel.

Drinking lattes and coffee never felt so stylish and sustainable.

It might seem far away, but it’s time to start thinking about your summer plans. This is the one place I go every summer.

Check out these travel tips from a Former FBI agent.

This new grand European café in NYC is on my radar.

Target just got into the luggage game and I’m here for it!

What I’m rereading: Untethered Soul

And here are some new books on my reading list: Followers, and Such a Fun Age.

Happy Cow is a great website and app that helps you find vegan and plant-based restaurants all over the world.

This show and this one, both on Netflix. Everyone is binge-watching them.

And that’s it for my February 2020 monthly round-up!

Whatever your plans are this month, I hope you get some time to relax and enjoy all that February has to offer.