It’s officially fall! Time for pumpkin patches, pumpkin drinks, and pumpkin sweets. But it also means the weather is turning cooler and people are getting sick. I’m not sure about you, but the mysterious, dreaded fall sickness is always one of my fears when going back to school. Either you get it, your roommate does, or the guy who sits next to you in class does, and suddenly you’re out of commission for a week.
This Fall semester, I’m trying to prioritize my health, and I’m taking all preventative measures instead of waiting until I’m already bedbound.
Health Priorities
First and foremost, I am prioritizing sleep. It can be easy to stay up late, either doing homework or being out with my friends. However, I’m someone who needs at least seven hours of sleep to function, or I don’t feel like a real person.
Not only is sleep generally important for my well-being, but studies show that strong, consistent sleep helps to strengthen the immune system. Putting my sleep schedule first this fall will help me feel better overall and also help prevent me from getting sick.
I’m also making sure that I am nourishing my body properly. It’s so easy to get caught up with school or be in the moment. I need to make sure I’m eating real, balanced meals and that I’m properly hydrating.
What does that mean for me? Eating three properly balanced meals a day at the very least. A great way that I make sure to fit in these meals during a tightly packed schedule is meal prepping. For hydration, my goal this fall is to drink at least 11.5 cups of water a day. It can seem like a lot at first, but taking it step by step makes it seem like less of an impossible task!
Dealing With the First Signs of Sickness
However, even with preventative measures, I can’t control everything. If I do begin feeling sick (which I fear may currently be happening), there are a couple of steps I take to help myself out.
My first and favorite way, even when I’m not sick, is making a cup of tea. I’m a tea enthusiast, and it always makes me feel a bit better when I’m sick. If I feel a sore throat coming on, I make sure to steep a cup of lemon ginger tea with honey, and it’s amazing every time.
If sleep, food, and hydration are important in preventing sickness, they’re just as important if I’m sick. Even if it’s just a common cold, it’s important to me that I’m actively listening to my body and what it needs from me, whether it’s telling me that it needs a nap after class or if it wants some soup.
Overall, when sick, make sure to go easy on yourself. It’s college; almost everyone gets sick at one point in the semester. What matters is taking care of yourself so you can make a full recovery before going back into the classroom.
These goals work for me, but they differ for everyone. Enjoy the cool, fall weather, and I hope the on-campus sickness spares you this semester!
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