It’s upon us. The time of year when every classroom is a symphony of sniffles; the tissues pile up, and everyone on campus seems to be coughing.
College is full of firsts. Your first college party, your first late-night study session, your first all-nighter before an exam, your first dangerous excess dose of caffeine (sorry, Mom), and unfortunately, your first time getting sick away from home.
There’s nothing as disastrous and frustrating as waking up in your dorm room with that dreaded sore throat, hot fever flash, and absolutely zero motivation to leave your bed. Suddenly, the dining hall feels as if it’s miles away, your eight-thirty chemistry class feels like Mission: Impossible, and you’re longing to be in your own bed at home with your mom bringing you Tylenol and a glass of water.
Let’s play a quick game of True or False. True or false: College pauses for you just because you’re feeling a little bit under the weather. True or False: Your assignments no longer have due dates, and you are now free to hand them in at your leisure. If you answered false to both statements, consider yourself a smart individual. Sadly, your tuition bill doesn’t come with a built-in caretaker, and your mom can’t ditch the ole’ day job to come nurture you. So, whether you’ve been infected with your campus’s plague or simply trying to survive flu season, here are a few tips to make your sick days a little less miserable and a little more manageable.
1. Stock up before you need it
Benjamin Franklin once said, “In failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” While he probably wasn’t talking about suffering from a cold in his college days, the advice still applies. Stocking up on the essentials before you get sick saves you a miserable trip to Walmart when all you want to do is sleep. Fortunately, my family and I were smart about this before I left for college. I have a cute little first aid drawer that has been my key to survival this past week. Having tissues, cough drops, pain relievers, and at least two reusable water bottles in your dorm is a game changer when you start feeling under the weather.
It is also worth keeping some easy snacks, teas, and some kind of fruit juice in the dorm. You’ll thank yourself when the walk to the dining hall feels like running a 5K. Don’t forget to keep some comfort snacks such as chips, cookies, or your favorite candy. Probably not the best health advice, but there’s nothing wrong with a little morale boost when you’re feeling down and out.
Think of it as your survival kit. You might not appreciate it as much when you’re healthy, but future you definitely will.
2. Become best friends with your bed
I’ll be honest here. This one was fairly easy for me because I suppose my bed and I already have a pretty strong relationship. Sometimes when you are sick, there is a temptation to keep pushing through your normal routine. You might convince yourself that you can make it through class, finish your assignments, go to practice, and still hit leg day afterwards.
But sometimes, the most productive thing you can do is nothing.
Give yourself permission to rest. Get comfortable, drink plenty of fluids, and try to get enough sleep. I know I probably sound like a mom, but it’s necessary. Your body needs time to recover, and running yourself into the ground is not going to make that process any easier. Even if you cannot sleep, there’s nothing wrong with relaxing and throwing on a nice movie. This week, rest healed my body, but bingeing The Mighty Ducks movie series healed my soul.
Your assignments will still be there after a nap. Hopefully, you’ll feel a little better when you get back to them.
3. To be, or not to be (in class)
One of the hardest parts of being sick in college is deciding whether or not you are well enough to go to class.
On one hand, attendance policies exist, and no one wants to fall behind. Making up work is a pain, especially when you missed the lecture to go along with it. On the other hand, sitting in a classroom coughing every thirty seconds is not ideal— for you or the people sitting around you. Going to class while contagious exposes others to illness. Most classmates would rather help you make up work and share the notes with you than catch what you’re fighting.
It might seem scary to skip class in college, especially when many professors have strict attendance policies. But the truth of the matter is professors are people too, and they understand that students get sick. If you’re feeling too unwell to attend, send your professor an email, explain the situation, and ask how you can catch up on missed coursework. Checking the syllabus and your professor’s illness policy can also help you figure out the next steps. Don’t go into this situation expecting it, but sometimes if you play your cards right, professors will be flexible and lessen the workload for you. If you can’t tell, I have some godsend professors this semester!
Also, to piggyback off of the previous piece of advice, going to class while run down does you no good. You’re not going to be able to focus or give your best effort to learn the material. For the sake of yourself, your classmates, and your professors, don’t be a hero.
4. Allow yourself to be homesick
I’m not above admitting that this week has been torture for me. Originally, I thought I was handling this just fine. To me, this newfound freedom and independence meant taking care of myself without anyone’s help. It wasn’t until I called my mom to tell her I wasn’t feeling well that I realized that I was homesick for the first time. After telling her my laundry list of symptoms, she told me she felt bad that she wasn’t there to give me a hug. And from there, it all fell down. Even after ending the phone call, I felt this intense emptiness all day.
I think what made that phone call hit so hard was realizing how used to having her there I’ve always been. Growing up, whenever I was sick, my mom was always helping me in some capacity. Whether it was bringing me medicine, checking my temperature, or making sure I was comfortable, I never had to worry about getting through it by myself. It was something I grew so accustomed to that I never stopped to think twice about it.
Even as I grew older and entered my young adult years, I found that my mom still took care of me the way she did when I was younger. Being sick at college has made me realize how much I missed these little things. This longing was only intensified when I went to rub Vick’s Vapo Rub on my chest, something my mom always did for me. I vividly remember squirming around and giggling as she tried to get me to be still so she could finish applying it. As much as I wanted to prove that I could handle my own, there was still a huge part of me that just wanted my mom to be there to take care of me as she always had.
If you’re experiencing homesickness for the first time, it’s completely reasonable, and you are definitely not alone. Give yourself some grace and call your family, talk to a friend or roommate or do something that reminds of you home. You don’t have to prove that you can handle the weight of the world on your shoulders, especially when you are already feeling vulnerable. Learning how to take care of yourself also means recognizing when you need a little comfort from the people you love.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help
One of the biggest lessons of college is learning that independence and occasionally needing assistance are not mutually exclusive events. If you’re feeling particularly miserable or overwhelmed, ask your roommate or a friend if they can grab you something from the dining hall or pick up a few essentials. Chances are, they’ll be happy to help, especially knowing that they might need the favor someday.
It’s also worth noting that a cold might need more attention than medicine or a movie marathon. Your campus health center is not just there for decoration, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re concerned about symptoms. Most campus health centers have cough drops, over-the-counter pain medications, and other necessities such as salt for gargling or tea packets and honey. You could save yourself some money by making a stop there before heading to the store. Colleges have these resources for a reason, and you’re not the only one who will utilize them.
Remember, asking for help doesn’t make us needy, dramatic, or any less independent. It makes us human.
6. Give yourself grace
College is often portrayed as the most exciting time of your life (for good reason!), filled with new friendships, unforgettable memories, and endless opportunities. And while all of these things are true, no one really talks about the less glamorous moments: the homesickness, the exhaustion, and the days when getting out of bed or getting into the shower feel like huge accomplishments.
Your first sick day from home isn’t going to be your favorite college memory. You might miss a class, cancel plans, or spend an entire afternoon watching movies in bed. Life goes on.
You’re learning how to navigate an entirely new chapter of your life, and that includes learning how to care for yourself when things don’t go according to plan. That’s just life. You don’t have to have everything figured out on the first try.
A final reminder
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my first sick days on campus, it’s that a minor setback is not the end of the world. Life doesn’t follow a strict agenda, and it’s ok if things don’t go according to plan. That’s where we learn the most. You might fall behind on an assignment, miss a practice, or spend an entire day in bed contributing nothing to society. Oh well.
College is about learning to be independent, but that doesn’t mean you must figure everything out on your own. Call your mom, lean on your friends, ask your professors for guidance, and don’t be afraid to admit that you need a break. You might be away from home, but home is never truly far away from you.
And of course, do yourself a solid and stock up on tissues before flu season starts. Residence hall toilet paper is not a suitable substitute.