Freshman year of college is the first time a lot of people are living on their own and fully taking care of themselves. While this is a long-awaited exciting jump into adulthood it is important to remember to put your health first. Here are my tips on doing the best you can to avoid the inevitable freshman plague.
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Drink Plenty of Water.
https://pixabay.com/en/bottle-mineral-water-bottle-of-water-2032980/
As cliche and obvious as this may sound staying hydrated is an easy way to help keep your body feeling great. I ordered a cute tumbler off amazon and now I don’t leave my dorm without it. Drinking water has so many benefits such as boosting your immune system, relieving cramps and headaches and so much more! This is such an easy preventative step that is often overlooked.
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Sanitize! Sanitize! Sanitize!
https://pixabay.com/en/germ-bacillus-angry-fight-against-158107/
Clean your room and bathroom at least twice a week–I don’t mean just pick up your dirty clothes, get the clorox wipes out and get rid of any germs that are bound to get in. Living in such close quarters it’s hard not to spread germs but be aware of your sick friends and don’t share drinks or food.
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Get Enough Sleep
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I lived in an all girls dorm my freshman year so in the beginning every night felt like a giant sleepover. As much fun as staying up late bonding with your hall can be getting enough sleep is more important. I also try not to watch netflix when I get in bed because I know I’ll waste hours of sleep.
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Listen to your body!
https://pixabay.com/en/yoga-exercise-fitness-woman-health-3053488/
If you feel like you’re coming down with something don’t go out. It is crucial to know your limits, missing one night out is worth not spending a weekend in the health center! When I am feeling run down I know it’s important to eat cleanly, drink more water, and take it easy–skip the challenging workout in the gym and opt for a relaxing yoga class.
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Prepare for the Plague
https://pixabay.com/en/relaxing-lounging-saturday-cozy-1979674/
Even if you follow all these tips completely avoiding the freshman plague is impossible so always have a can of soup and a box of tissues nearby. Spending a couple days bedridden binging on your favorite netflix show is part of the college experience so it’s better to be prepared.
While I may have spent countless hours in the health center my freshman year I am proud to say I have made it to second semester this year without even catching a cold! I put my health first so I’m always able to keep up with everything else in my life!