There is nothing worse then waking up with a sore throat or stuffy nose right before your 8 am. As we settle into the semester, it seems like everyone is sick and getting an appointment at health services seems impossible. It’s not easy being sick. (Trust me, I currently have an awful cold.) Unfortunately, it happens to everyon,e so here are a few tips for surviving any illness in college.
Sleep is important
No matter what you’re sick with – cold, stomach flu, strep throat, whatever – I promise sleep is one of the most important things you can do for yourself. Our body uses sleep as a time to recover, to fix any damages and to fight off diseases. Chances are if you’re sick, then you’re probably exhausted, too.
Don’t worry about going out.
Don’t let FOMO get you! When you’re sick and stuck in bed, you may feel down when you see everyone going out without you. Remember that rest is super important. Let your body heal so that you can go out in the future. Also, think about others! If you go out, you might get other people sick, too.
If you’re able to go to class, be prepared.
If I’m sick but still able to go to class, I come fully prepared with any item I may need. This includes tissues, cough drops, water, and any medication you are taking.Coming to class prepared also allows me to avoid any embarrassing moments, like continuously coughing during an exam. I haven’t seen many boxes of tissues lying around a college classroom, so make sure you bring your own and never use your sleeve for your runny nose. Being sick doesn’t mean you have to be gross collegiettes!
Water!!!
I can’t stress this enough. Seriously, water or fluids will help you overcome any illness. The daily requirement is around 8 glasses of water a day. I will be the first to admit that I don’t drink close to enough water a day, but the moment I feel a cold coming on I start chugging it. You don’t have to be sick to drink enough water. My roommate drinks a ton of water every day and she never gets sick.
Count on your friends!
You’ll learn who your true friends are when you’re sick. They’re the ones who help take care of you no matter how sick you are and are always checking in on you. I am super thankful for one of my sorority sisters who helped clean me up after a terrible nose bleed. Now that’s a true friend.
Relax
Don’t let being sick stress you out. It happens to everyone eventually. It’s okay to miss class or events sometimes because you’re sick. Just wait it out – it doesn’t last forever!
College is hard, and getting sick during the first few weeks makes it even harder. But you can do it, collegiettes. We believe in you.
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