As the weather gets colder, and we continue through the semester, our immune systems aren’t as strong as they were when we first got to school. We are now indoors a lot more where the temperature tends to be warmer than it is outside. As more and more people start to become sick, and we find ourselves in closer proximity to them, what are the best ways to avoid getting sick? Sure, it’s easy to say stay away from them but in college, that’s impossible (unless you have a single and decide to become a hermit). So what CAN you do?
Catch Your Zs!
Your body needs to rest and recooperate. While we can easily fall into bad sleeping habits while we focus on studying and stay out late on weekends, it’s important to be getting at least 7 hours of sleep per night. I know, 7 hours seems crazy with the kind of schedules we have as college students, but sleep is an integral part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle! Even taking a quick nap during the day can help your body refresh.
Wash Your Hands
We’ve been taught this since we were kids but it is still very true. Washing you hands to get rid of germs is crucial especiall before eating and after coming home from a long day. Carry hand sanitizer with you too! I suggest the scented kind that smells WAY better than any soap they have on BC’s campus.
Drink Your OJ
OJ is packed with Vitamin C. Vitamin C is known to help keep up your immune system. When I came to college my mom supplied me with Vitamin C suplemental pills, it doesn’t hurt to have these on hand when the BC plague starts to infest the campus!
Keep Your Living Space Clean
This is the perfect way for you to finally find that motivation to clean your room, or to ask your roommate to clean her things. Germs LOVE clutter! Items left lying around collect dust which are basically just large germ sespools. Take some time out to vacuum, dust, do laundry, throw out that pizza that’s been sitting in the corner of your room for a week (that might be more directed to the boyfriends out there…might want to help them clean too!)
Exercise
To stay healthy you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle and exercising is a large part of that. On top giving you a great bod, exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t get sick! (Name that movie).
Keep Hydrated
By drinking enough fluids, your body is able to detox and clear out any toxins. This is something that you should be focused on daily but especially during cold and flu season.
While all of this may seem like common knowledge, it is important to pay extra attention to them during the colder months. Look for simple ways to incorporate these healthy habits into your daily life to help your body prepare for the upcoming season.
Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/basics/prevent…
Photo sources
http://blog.joslin.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/flu.jpg
http://www.jmali.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Woman-drinking-orange-ju…