So you’re studying for your toughest class, and all of a sudden, you feel it: that uncomfortable, scratchy feeling at the back of your throat that you hope will go away with a sip of your favorite drink. But it doesn’t, and next thing you know that sore throat has turned into a raging monster of a cold. You take lots of vitamins and drink tons of tea, and just hope that your terrible cough and congestion will go away as soon as possible. There are so many reasons why being sick in college is the absolute worst.
1. Suffering Through Class
As if being sick wasn’t torture enough, sitting through a lecture with a persistent cough and stuffed up nose is brutal. Not only does it make it so much more difficult to pay attention, but it feels like with every cough the attention gets put on you. Each cough echoes through the room, and the feeling of being surrounded by classmates while feeling like a germ factory just uncomfortable. And how am I supposed to focus when the only thing I want is to be curled up in bed with a hot cup of tea and unlimited tissues?
2. Attempting to Study/Do Homework
If getting sick has taught me anything, it’s that you shouldn’t put things off until the last minute. Trying to write an essay or take a quiz with a pounding headache either just won’t happen or certainly won’t be my best work. So, healthy students of the world, don’t procrastinate. That way when you don’t feel well, you can just rest.
3. Missing Out on the Fun
The absolute worst part about getting sick is feeling so terrible you have to cancel your plans. The FOMO is real, and there is nothing sadder than scrolling through Instagram or watching your friend’s Snapchats at a fun event while you are home feeling miserable. This is the most mentally challenging part about being sick; it’s really tough to have a positive attitude when it feels like you are missing out on all the fun.
4. The Struggle of Recovery
Because of my hatred for feeling sick, I will do everything in my power to get healthy. This includes getting lots of rest, taking vitamins, drinking tea and TONS of water, eating healthy, sleeping, and doing basically anything with a track record of “curing” a cold. However, sometimes none of that is enough, and with the stress and hectic schedule of college, it can feel like an illness just drags on forever. It unfortunately seems like the only true healer is time, and it’s important to remind yourself that one day your troublesome cough will go away.
After several days of being sick, there is nothing more satisfying than waking up one morning and having no trouble breathing. It’s at this moment that you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and all of your rest and recovery has paid off. So enjoy each day feeling good, and when you catch a cold again just know that everyone understands the struggle!