College is full of sharing – we swap clothes, food, drinks (and, um, spit) with each other, and unfortunately, this means we share germs too. Getting sick at school means missing out on classes, extracurricular activities, and parties. There aren’t even the comforts of home to help you rest and get better faster. As summer comes to an end and we head into cold and flu season, use these tips to prevent yourself from catching whatever’s going around.
Limit your sharing.Yes, it’s good to share, but living in close quarters with many others opens up a lot of opportunities for illness. Use your own cups, glasses and silverware, use clean dishes and avoid sharing makeup.
Stay healthy.In order for your immune system to remain in good shape, you have to take care of it! Eating a balance of carbs, protein, fruits and vegetables and getting regular exercise will help keep your body in prime shape to ward of illnesses. Getting enough sleep also helps your body running smoothly, so go to bed at a
reasonable time and avoid sleep-disrupting caffeinated or alcoholic drinks late in the afternoon.
De-stress.Between classes, clubs and other commitments, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Anxiety and stress can present themselves in your body before you’re even aware that you’re overloaded, and adding extra stress to your body will weaken your immune system. Though college offers a wealth of opportunities, taking on too many is counterintuitive – stressing yourself to the point of illness will cause you to fall behind in classes and in life. Make time for sleep, eat a balanced diet, and take some time each day to unwind- whether that means going to the gym, having a movie night with friends, or just resting between classes or meetings.
If you feel a little sick… That’s what products like Emergen-C and Airborne are for. At the drugstore, you’ll find immune-boosting supplements in the vitamin aisle. At the first sign of a cold or other illness, slip one of these fizzy tablets into a glass of water. They’re rich in vitamin C and other minerals and antioxidants that help your immune system fight illnesses. Continue drinking these supplements a few times a day until you feel completely better.
If you’re really sick, don’t push yourself! Visit the campus health center, take any prescribed medicine religiously and don’t drag yourself to class if you really don’t feel like it. It’s better to miss a few classes and recover quickly than it is to drug yourself up on DayQuil for weeks and feel only okay. Plus, your classmates don’t want to catch whatever you have! Take care of your body before you throw yourself back into your hectic schedule.