Did Santa bring more than presents to your home this season? If a cold or flu made its way down the chimney (or through your front door), your holiday might have been a little less than ideal. Instead of sipping hot cocoa and enjoying your Christmas gifts, once your family and friends went home you were left with coughing, aches, and not enough tissues. Sanitizing after Santa (or your sniffling out of town guests) is important as it will not only protect your remaining family from whatever germs came into your house, but it will also kick the germs to the curb faster and help you get well. So where should you focus on cleaning, and how should you do it?

Bedrooms. Did your holiday guests come into town with a touch of a cold that quickly turned into a full-blown flu before they left? Have your kids been coughing since Christmas Eve? Taking time to sanitize the bedrooms in your house is important in keeping your home healthy! Wash all bed linens on hot wash if possible, and spray down mattresses, mattress toppers, drapes, and other fabric surfaces that can't be washed with a disinfectant of your choice. Wipe down hard surfaces like bedside tables, headboards, tv remotes, curtain and blind cords/rods, light switches, doorknobs, etc. Pretty much any surface that could have been touched should be sanitized. Finally, open windows for a while if you can to air out the room, and vacuum the space with a HEPA filter to take care of any remaining particles.

Bathrooms. Much like the bedroom, all hard surfaces should be cleaned with sanitizing wipes or cleaners, and don't forget inside the shower or tub! In addition, steam mopping or mopping the floor with an antibacterial cleaner is a good way to take care of any residual viruses hanging around and give you a fresh start to work with.

Extras! Do you keep throws and blankets on chairs and sofas around your home? Wash those for sure! Television remotes are a major hot spot for germs, so cleaning them thoroughly is key when sanitizing after a bout of sickness has hit your household. Other commonly used items that should be thoroughly cleaned include:

cell phones
the handle on the refrigerator and/or freezer!
toothbrushes
makeup brushes and hairbrushescar
keys

Don't forget handy shortcuts that make the cleaning process easier! Most dishwashers for example are equipped with a sanitizing function. Running dishes, or even certain toys, on this function can disinfect them quickly without the need for chemicals!

We hope you enjoy a happy (and healthy) year ahead, and experience growth and success in your business endeavors! If you need help kickstarting growth, connecting with potential clients, or building your brand within the community, Newton Peach Marketing in the answer. We provide social media management and content creation for businesses of all kinds. Call us to schedule a FREE initial consultation and quote!

June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month, and for those that spend a lot of time in the great outdoors with personal farms or gardens, or who have a highly flexible schedule allowing them to eat healthy and do continual shopping and meal prep, it's easy to celebrate this "holiday.” However, for business owners with busy schedules and a mile-long to-do list, making healthy eating a priority isn't easy. Too often, we are forced to turn to convenience foods (or run through the drive-thru) to give us energy throughout the day between meetings, business errands, and trying to maintain life outside of work, but unfortunately, this will negatively affect your energy levels over time, and is terrible for your blood pressure, cholesterol, sodium levels, and more. So, what can you do to get those daily doses of fruits and veggies in, while keeping up with your busy lifestyle?

Plan ahead. By looking ahead and your week and having a plan for your meals, you're more likely to incorporate healthy options than "eating on the fly" and picking up food last minute...or cleaning out your fridge by dining on leftover Chinese takeout. There are lots of ways to incorporate healthy eating into your weekly routine by having a meal plan. For example, there are lots of ideas online about prepping various salads for the week, and then you simply throw the jar into your lunch bag along with the dressing, grab a bottled water, and you're set to go! This can even be mixed up and eaten while out and about between client consultations and picking up kids from soccer camp! Another idea is to plan out healthy dinners during the week, and cook enough for leftovers for your lunch the next day. Not only does this help your whole family practice healthier eating, but by having your lunch packed and ready to go the night prior, you'll save time in the mornings without sacrificing health.
Make sure your meals (and snacks) pack a punch. Need a breakfast on the go? Instead of reaching for a bagel or a granola bar, why not plan for 10 extra minutes of prep and whip up a smoothie? Smoothies are a wonderful way to get in several servings of fresh fruits (and veggies if you add spinach, carrots, or other mildly flavored options in!) without having to take time to sit down and eat a large breakfast. You can whiz up a smoothie in the blender, throw it in a transportable cup with a straw, and you have a healthy breakfast to sustain you throughout your morning commute. Keep the same thing in mind for lunches and snacks throughout the day. Reach for fresh options like carrot sticks instead of potato chips alongside your sandwich, or an apple instead of a cookie when the afternoon slump rolls around.
Shop local! Yes, we know fresh produce, especially if it's organic, can be a bit pricey in the grocery store when compared to convenience options. That's why we encourage you to shop local. Right here in our own county, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Lake Wales, and surrounding communities have weekly, or bi-weekly, farmers markets and street fairs during the summer where local gardeners put out their produce for purchase. You know you are getting fresh, top-quality fruits and vegetables, and you're supporting a neighbor and fellow business owner. It's a win-win. Plus, by buying fruits and veggies that are in season, you know they'll taste better, and likely have a higher nutrient content.
By maintaining healthy eating habits this summer, your body will thrive and you'll see your energy increase and your strength improve. In the same way, Newton Peach Marketing is ready to help you maintain healthy business strategies to increase your client base and grow your brand! Through a customized blend of social media engagement and content creation, blogging, local advertisement, and more, we target a specific audience for your company, to keep you growing and expanding within the community and beyond.

Happy June! Stay healthy and happy!