Now that the cold weather is finally hitting full force, it seems like the germs are too! In a full auditorium, sniffles and coughs seem to overpower anything the professor is saying. It’s hard enough to focus on a lecture with the sounds of sickness filling the air, but it’s even more difficult to focus when you’re the one that’s sick. Back home, mom was always there to remind you to take your vitamins and bring you soup when you were stuck in bed. Now that you’re away at college, it’s up to you to take care of yourself and stay healthy! Here are five easy ways to keep the “Tallahassee Plague” away this winter:
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1. Drink lots of water. It seems simple, but the average person should drink around 2 liters of water a day. Water has so many health benefits: it boosts your metabolism, energizes your body, hydrates your skin and flushes out the waste and bacteria in your body, just to name a few. Drinking 8 glasses of water a day helps you to stay hydrated and healthy!
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2. Get your natural vitamins. My mom always made a point to make sure I was sufficient in vitamins B, D and C, and there are many easy, natural ways to make that happen without taking any supplements! Vitamin B helps energize your body from food, and it can be gained through vegetables, dairy and meats. You can gain vitamin D by simply going outside; when sunshine interacts with your skin, your body starts to manufacture vitamin D. Finally, vitamin C helps repair any damage that has been done to your body, helps the body absorb iron and keeps your bones and teeth healthy. Oranges, cantaloupe, kiwi, mango and pineapple are just a few of the delicious and refreshing sources of vitamin C. Just by eating some fruits and vegetables, you can stock up your body on vitamins that will keep you energized and strong enough to fight any sickness!
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3. Dress for the weather. Driving around Tally at night, I’ve seen girls going out in shorts, crop tops and otherwise very little clothing. Even during the day I’ll see girls around campus in shorts and t-shirts. Every time, I think to myself: “Aren’t they freezing cold?” As a born and raised Florida girl, I make sure to wear pants or a sweater any time the temperature drops below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Instead of dressing to match other people, dress to suit the climate. Keep yourself warm and comfortable in this cold weather! If you’re cold, you’re bound to get a cold. Besides, everyone loves a comfy sweater!
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4. De-stress. Everyone knows that mental health correlates with physical health. Sickness never fails to creep up on you around the most stressful times. Besides Murphy’s Law, there is a real and biological reason for this: stress suppresses your immune system. College can really get to you sometimes, so you have to find ways to take a break from the chaos and relax!
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5. Sleep, sleep, sleep! Getting enough sleep at night will help you greatly during the day. Sleep helps maintain hormone balance, allows your body to grow and develop and keeps your immune system strong. College students should sleep an average of 8 hours a night. It may seem hard to get eight hours every single night, but it’s important to help your immune system fight off infections and any type of sickness that comes your way!
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Collegiettes, do what you can this winter to stay healthy and steer clear of the “Tallahassee Plague!”
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