3. Buy plenty of hand sanitizer.

When researchers from Children's Hospital in Boston studied 292 families for 5 months, they found that those who carried hand sanitizer with them had 59% fewer cases of stomach bugs than nonusers. That's because, when used correctly—squirt out enough gel so your hands still feel damp after rubbing together for 10 to 15 seconds—these products nearly eliminate germs.

A bottle stashed in your purse (and in your husband's briefcase and the kids' book bags) is an excellent alternative to washing if you've just shaken a bunch of hands and can't get to a sink; try this natural DIY hand sanitizer recipe or look for ones that don't require water and have at least 60% alcohol. 

4. Join a club.

You know that friendships counteract the harmful effects of stress hormones, but new research says the more friends you have, the healthier you'll be. Carnegie Mellon doctors gave 83 college freshmen an influenza vaccine and found that those with larger social networks produced more flu-fighting antibodies than those who hung out in smaller groups. Students who reported feeling lonely produced fewer antibodies, as well. Start a book group or cultivate group-friendly hobbies.

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