It’s October and the weather is starting to change. We’re starting to wear jackets and scarves because autumn is officially here, giving us more reasons to drink hot lattes once again. Of course we’re super excited for the fall, but that also means being extra cautious about germs. That said, if you’ve walked through the halls at school since this cooler weather has started, you’ve noticed the coughs and sniffs happening left and right. You can’t escape it and nobody has time to catch whatever the guy sitting behind you has.
Here’s some tips to prevent being sick and to help recover as quick as possible:
1. Take your vitamins.
Seriously, do this. Multivitamins helps make up for any nutritional shortfalls, but vitamin-c especially has long been known to reduce the duration of a cold. Emergen-C is a great way to support your immune system, so keep those in the kitchen for a quick dose.
2. Keep throat lozenges and cough drops on you at all times.
When you just can’t seem to stop coughing, these are a go-to for when you’re in the middle of class and can’t leave. We all know what it feels like to be the one in class coughing up a storm especially during a quiz, so these are a life saver to keep around in your backpack.
3. Eat superfoods!
This means citrus fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons. These help you recover quicky, but you should be eating them all the time! Fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids are also great to help lessen the inflammation that occurs in the body while sick. Snacking on almonds also help to fight viral infections. Of course, old school chicken soup helps thins out any mucus that could build up.
4. Drink tea.
Herbal tea with lemon and honey is a life saver. Try to avoid adding sugar since it can cause any mucus to thicken. Echinacea tea can help reduce any inflammation and symptoms of cold and flu.
5. Sleep!
Sleep is so important. Don’t skimp out on your eight hours. With a full night’s rest, you’d be surprised with how much you can do and how much better you feel the next day. Your body will thank you for the rest.
6. Stock up on ibuprofen, NyQuil, water, etc.
Sometimes, you’ll feel too week to even get up. It’s nice to keep water nearby at all times and some meds to help you feel better when you need them. Be careful to not take anything that will make you sleepy on days when you need to be alert. It’s not ideal to miss more days than expected especially with midterms approaching.
Overall, stay hydrated, sleep well, eat well, and keep some medicine nearby. These tips should help you get through the season with no problem!