It’s officially that time of year we all dread– stuffy noses, never-ending coughs, body aches and the “why me?” feeling. Between stress, weakened immune systems and sharing spaces with students, it isn’t easy to stay 100% at all times.
After powering through a week-long illness myself, I have gathered five essential tips that guided me through sickness while staying on top of school, clubs and life in general.
- Having a Sickness Drawer Before Needing It
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The last thing I wanted to do while being sick was leave my room. I learned from my previous semesters that having my preferred essentials– Nyquil, Dayquil, Advil, cough drops, hand sanitizer and saltine crackers stashed away in a bin is a necessity.
With saltines, I knew that having an appetite while being sick was a rare occurrence. I was able to take medication without upsetting my stomach when consuming quick-to-go, easy-to-digest, high-carb snacks. Since finals season is approaching, I guarantee that future-you will be grateful for this bin just in case sickness spreads.
- Giving Yourself Permission to Take a Slow Day
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I dedicated one day out of the week to take myself out of social situations and any public area. Sending out quick emails to clubs and letting people know that I wouldn’t be available allowed me to take a mandatory nap. I showered, drank warm honey water and took Nyquil at 9 p.m., allowing myself to regenerate from 8-10 hours of quality sleep.
I genuinely felt like a new person after that day, and although I felt guilty for not attending certain events, I realized that it didn’t mean I was avoiding certain responsibilities, but rather protecting my health and the people around me. My mindset had become keen to rather have one day to myself than feel worse for a couple more.
- Become a Morning Worker
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Mornings became the most productive hours of my day during sickness. When the morning medication and breakfast settled into my system, I knew this would be the timeframe that would provide me with no distractions and easy motivation.
Getting a head start helped me avoid an overwhelming feeling of stress later in the day if I knew that my body was going to get tired again. Planning around your specific energy patterns makes a drastic difference.
- Keeping Food Simple
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Living in a dorm, cooking was already difficult. Other than saltines, having bananas, yogurt, rice, tea and soup (pre-made) was ideal. Keeping food quick to go allowed me to spend less time and energy trying to find certain ingredients or thinking too much about what I was eating when I didn’t have an appetite.
Living near downtown, I bought food once, and it was the best meal I’d had all week. I had pho, a mixture of plain broth and noodles. It was warm, easy on my stomach and allowed me to have my first hearty meal of the week.
- Comfort at University Health Services
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The worst part of being sick was internet searching symptoms and convincing myself that I may have something worse than it seems. Having always felt anxiety-induced from any minor health issue, UHS truly saved me from my own thoughts.
I truly have never had such a great experience with the PAs, doctors, etc., and getting properly tested gave me the clarity I needed. Additionally, the UHS building offers free masks, which are convenient to keep in your backpack when you’re recovering.
There is no perfect formula for dealing with an illness while being busy, but there are always things that can be done to make it easier. Taking care of yourself is the first step to avoiding falling behind.
And if sickness does occur? These tips might just help you as they helped me.