You’re a freshman living in a shoebox dorm room. Winter hit, and someone on your floor came down with a cold; before you know it, the whole floor has it. These colds can easily go around because of the small, compact living conditions and shared amenities such as the bathroom, the computer lab and the kitchen. But fear not, follow these steps to steer clear of the “Freshman Flu”:
1. Wash your hands, whenever and wherever!
Washing your hands is by far the most important precaution for preventing the spread of all the germs that are going around you. Washing your hands frequently every day will help prevent spreading the cold; it will keep you in tip-top shape!
This reminder may seem silly because it’s something everyone would just do, right? It’s not. Leaving mouth exposed when you sneeze or cough will contaminate the things around you; it will spread the germs. Covering your mouth/nasal area when you need to sneeze or cough is just another way to prevent the spread of a nasty cold!
3. Blow your dang nose, people!
You’re sitting in lecture, your nose is running, your head is congested, and you’re completely out of it. But, your sniffling and snuffling are quite annoying to the people around you, too! Plus, it isn’t doing you any good. Blow your nose to relieve mucus from your nasal cavity, and ultimately that congested feeling. Blow your dang nose, people!
4. Stay hydrated and eat well It’s easy to curl up with your favorite comfort food/drink when you’re feeling sick; but that will only hinder your healing process! Your body will be trying to also digest the upsetting foods you’ve consumed in addition to fighting off your never-ending cold; it will only make your body work even more! Eating clean foods (lots of fruits and veggies) and hydrating 24/7 with water will make your body stronger!
Getting extra sleep in your insanely busy day may seem difficult; but it’s necessary, and it will definitely help. Sleep not only gives your brain, but also your body, time to rest. Help your body build the strength it needs to fight off this cold by giving your the sleep it deserves.
It’s important to get your body moving again as your cold starts to wind down. Do some light exercise like walking, biking or yoga; it will make your body feel refreshed and rejuvenated.
7. Think positive! Last but definitely not least, stay positive. With all the work that comes with school, homework, relationships, jobs and now this meddling cold, it’s incredibly hard to not feel bad for yourself at times — and that’s okay! But, if you take care of your mind, your body, too, will take care of itself. Always remember, mind over matter!
Keeping up with the demands of school and life can be hard without a healthy body and mind. Follow these simple steps to recover from a cold; they will make a substantial impact on your well-being and cut your recovery time in half.