A common problem I have noticed among Colby students is that we don’t always take care of ourselves the way we should. We sacrifice our health to go to class, practice, a club meeting, or a rehearsal and we do it because being sick is just too inconvenient. Sure, a little cold is no reason to stop all activity and hibernate in bed, but putting self care before all of our daily commitments is something we all should be practicing more frequently. Instead of hacking up a lung during every class and going through six boxes of tissues, take the time to listen to and take care of your body.
You may have noticed by now that if one person at Colby is sick, than everyone at Colby seems to be sick. This is especially true during flu season #tistheseason! If you’re like me and want to stay as healthy as possible so that you don’t miss all of your exams (a story for another time), here are some tips and tricks for dealing with the petri dish that is Colby and how to keep your body feeling good!
1. Use a Neti Pot
Unpopular opinion: I love my Neti Pot. I swear by it and my friends roll their eyes when I tell them to use it. Most people hate having water squirt up one nostril and out the other, but I feel like that’s a small price to pay for being able to breathe out of your nose. No, I don’t love the way it physically feels while I am using it, but I do love the way it makes me feel afterwards. Using a Neti Pot clears your sinuses so quickly and easily, I always feel like my colds go away much faster. The minute I start feeling stuffed up, I start using mine.
Pro tip: You can find the cheapest type of Neti Pot (around $7.00) at any pharmacy.
Pro tip #2: Make sure to use distilled water or water that has been boiled to avoid infection!
2. Actually wash your hands with the hand sanitizer outside of all the dining halls
Washing your hands before a meal may seem like an obvious way to keep germs out of your system, but in practice, so many people forget to do it. I always do. An easy way to clean your hands before eating is to use the hand sanitizer dispensers that are placed right outside of the entrance of every dining hall. Wash your hands, swipe your card and enjoy a Dana rice bowl.
Pro tip: If you find you are too focused on eating and keep walking by the hand sanitizer dispenser without using it, set a reminder on your phone to get you into the habit.
3. Invest in antibacterial wipes
Keeping a stash of antibacterial wipes in your room is never a bad idea. Use them to wipe down doorknobs and shared surfaces in order to keep the germs out (especially if your roommate is sick).
Pro tip: You can find antibacterial wipes at nearly any store, including the Colby Bookstore.
4. Don’t share cups at parties
As fun as it is to play pong with some dude’s old and grimy used solo cups, opt for a separate can to drink out of! If drinking is part of your social life, bring your own drink so that you don’t have to share with anyone or find a clean cup when you arrive to pour a new drink into.
Pro tip: Always drink responsibly!
5. Echinacea and Emergen-C
Immune system boosters like the herbal supplement Echinacea and drink mixes like Emergen-C are proven to help keep your system strong and fight off nasty bugs. I am not a doctor, but I am always in favor of using easy supports that will help my body keep the germs far away from me.
Pro tip: The pink lemonade flavor of Emergen-C is by the far the best-tasting.
Pro tip #2: Supplements and immune system boosters like these are available at any pharmacy and Emergen-C (around $5.00) is usually sold at the Colby Bookstore.
6. Stock up on the essentials
There is nothing worse in the world than needing Advil, Pepto, or cough medicine, and then realizing you don’t have it and your roommate doesn’t have it and your roommate’s friend doesn’t have it… etc. I tend to be on the over-prepared side and stash every medicine I may possibly ever need into a drawer, but that may be overkill. I would suggest buying a few of the meds you have at home in the case that you ever need them at school.
Pro tip: If you can’t get yourself to a pharmacy, the Colby Bookstore carries most of the generic meds you may need.
Pro tip #2: Keep cough drops in your room too. Those are underrated life savers.
7. The stuff your mom always tells you
Exercise, eating well, lots of sleep, spending time doing things that make you happy…the list goes on. So basically all of the things that your mom says you should do. Although it’s easier said than done, these activities and practices really do make a difference. Do your best to integrate these into your day when you can– not only will they help your physical health, but your mental health too.
Happy flu season, everyone, and here’s hoping that we will all avoid the various plagues that go around this campus. If not, please stay away from me!