Flu season has rolled in roughly five weeks ahead of schedule, and norovirus is doing the rounds with it. The NHS is already calling it a tough winter. The household plan doesn't have to be complicated — it just has to actually happen.
Start with the boring stuff
Wash hands before meals. Open a window for ten minutes a day. Sleep more than you think you need. Get the flu jab if you're eligible. None of this is fashionable; all of it works.
Feed the immune system
Vitamins A, C, D and zinc all play documented roles in immune function. A daily family-friendly multivitamin is a reasonable backstop for picky-eating phases, dark winter months and weeks when dinner is whatever's quick.
Don't forget iron
Iron isn't just for energy — it's central to immune function too. Women, teenagers and growing children are the most likely to run short. A gentle liquid iron a few days a week can keep levels topped up without the stomach side effects of tablets.
If someone goes down
Push fluids, rest properly, paracetamol or ibuprofen as needed, and keep an eye on hydration in children and older relatives. Most flu clears in five to seven days; anything dramatic, get medical advice.
Protecting the rest of the house
Separate towels, separate cups, surfaces wiped down once a day, and an early bedtime for everyone still healthy. It's not paranoia — it's how you avoid playing dominoes with the household.