Now that exams and essay due dates are just around the corner, students are beginning to cough and sniffle left and right. Honestly, no one has time to be getting sick- it can put a damper in your usual schedule, slow you down, and leave you scatterbrained when you need to be on point for in-class discussions and lab assignments. Here are some ways to fight off sickness so you’re in tip-top shape for class.
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1. Own a First-Aid Kit
Having a first-aid kit handy throughout the year will definitely save you a few trips of knocking on your neighbors’ doors pestering them for band-aids or cough syrup. You don’t need to wait until you get sick or hurt to get one, just get it out of the way now while you’re still able to get out of your bed. Fill it with the essentials: Cough syrup, cough drops, band-aids, allergy medicine, Neosporin, Vicks, heating pads, and the like. You can also order a complete first aid kit from Amazon, like this one.
2. Get Your Rest
Don’t skip out on your sleep. Getting enough sleep is extremely important for your health. Even though some students “can’t afford” to get at least 8 hours of sleep every night, there are ways to increase the amount of possible time you can sleep. Do your homework early, put away your phone at least an hour before you sleep, multitask your chores and other small work throughout the day, and don’t procrastinate when it comes to large projects, essays, and a big exam. Avoid all-nighters and staying up late- it’s not fun almost falling asleep on the bus on the way to class or passing out in the middle of lecture. Not only are you risking your safety and health but you’re also not retaining as much information as you would if you had enough sleep.
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3. Drink Water
About 60% of your body is made up of water. Keep a water bottle with you throughout the day and try to remind yourself to stay hydrated throughout the day. Every Rutgers building has at least one water fountain, many of them actually have a filter specifically for refillable water bottles, so there won’t be a problem filling it up after it goes dry. Sometimes students are so preoccupied with catching a bus and writing notes that they forget to stay hydrated.
4. Dress for the Weather
Check the weather before you pick out your outfit for the day. This is especially important as of lately, considering it’s still scorching hot even though fall just started but it’s going to be suddenly cooler in the weeks to come. You should also take into consideration how your classrooms and lecture halls normally are. The contrast between how hot and humid it is outside and how blistering cold a classroom can be can definitely get students sick. Try to plan an outfit that you can layer so you’re prepared for whatever weather you may bump into.
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5. Take Naps
Find time to get some shut-eye. Some days you’ll feel a lot more exhausted and fatigued than you usually do. Maybe you haven’t been feeling like yourself for the past few days, or maybe you had a rough day. Taking a nap, or even just closing your eyes and taking a breather away from notes, books, PowerPoint slides, and your phone can result in a quick revitalization. There’s a lot of random couches or chairs at the libraries and student centers that you can claim for one of these moments if you aren’t in your dorm. And trust me, no one’s going to judge.
6. Pack On-the-Go Essentials
Make sure you always have tissues, hand sanitizer, Neosporin, cough drops, and band-aids in your backpack or purse. By being prepared beforehand, you won’t have to deal with the struggle of participating in your seminar with a sore throat or a sudden series of sneezes during your lecture. Also, it’s better to have tissues just in case you suddenly find yourself in a bathroom stall without toilet paper or a bathroom without paper towels or a hand-dryer.
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7. Eat Proper Meals
Make sure you’re actually eating, and eating well while you’re at it. It’s easy to forget to go to the dining hall when you’re preoccupied with getting your homework done before 11:59 p.m. that night or just being satisfied with instant ramen if you’re lazy, but you need to take care of yourself. Food is fuel. Even if Brower can be nasty, there’s a lot of food that you can eat- you can wait in line for an omelet or stir-fry. Make sure you’re getting exactly what you need to get- not just fries or a bowl of cereal. Try to get some fruits, vegetables, meats, or proper substitutes (for our vegan and vegetarian friends) into your diet every day.
8. Stay Away from the Sick
If your friends, roommates, or classmates start coughing, sneezing, sniffling, get the heck out of there. Or, at the very least, restrict the amount of interaction you have with said sick person. If your friend or friends are sick, try to sit further away and avoid being in their line of fire if they sneeze or cough. Avoid sitting next to sick classmates, because that can be an hour or more of just being in the cloud of sickness. Avoiding sick housemates/roommates is a little tougher though. Try to sanitize and wash your hands as much as possible, open windows and the door to get some fresh air in the often stuffy rooms, and wipe things down as much as possible. Of course, don’t be a jerk about trying not to get sick, but if they’re good friends they won’t want you to get sick either.
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9. Know Yourself
Now that you’re in college now, you should already know the signs that pop up from your body that indicate that you’re becoming sick. Sometimes, it’s a sudden wave of fatigue, feeling sleepy all the time, a lot of sneezing and sniffling, or becoming less social. Everyone’s different. But you should already know when something’s wrong, and when you see those signs, take action.
10. Avoid Sharing Drinks/Food/Make-up
Sometimes, it’s not obvious to you or your friends that someone is sick. When people are close, they often share drinks, food, or make-up when they’re out and about and hanging out. Try to avoid doing that if you can help it because it can be one of the quickest ways to get sick.
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11. Wash Your Hands
Wash your hands, just don’t overdo it. We don’t want to get sick but we don’t want dry hands either.
12. Know When You Need to Visit the Health Clinic
Don’t be stubborn by refusing to go to the doctor or being satisfied by a quick self-diagnosis aided by Google. Go to one of the health clinics available on the Rutgers New Brunswick campus if you don’t feel like yourself. It’s better to get checked out by someone who actually knows what they’re doing and figuring out how to nip whatever sickness you have in the bud rather than suffering for weeks. You can make an appointment online or see their hours here and they’ll help you with any questions or concerns you have when you show up. If you just need to pick up some cough drops though, they also have a pharmacy that not only has those but condoms, hair products, and snacks!