Flu season can be difficult in college. You’re in close contact with a lot of people, and staying healthy is a great feat. If (when) you do get sick, the repercussions can be pretty bad: get hit with one bad cold and everything can come crashing down quickly. Here are a few tips for staying healthy this flu season!
1. Vitamin C
The best way to prevent (or get over) any sort of illness is by taking a lot of Vitamin C! However, you may need more than just your morning glass of OJ to do the trick. Pick up some Vitamin C tablets or Emergen-C packets at CVS, and you can avoid the sniffles for a while!
2. Get lots of sleep!
We all know that in college there are hardly enough hours in the day to do everything we want to do, but it’s important to get a lot of sleep, especially in the winter months! When you’re running on little sleep, your body doesn’t have the energy to fight off illnesses, so you’re more likely to get sick! On weekdays, try to get your work done during the day so you can avoid too many late nights at Tisch and fit in your 8 hours.
3. Exercise
Finding time to exercise can be tricky, but it can be well worth the effort! Believe it or not, exercising can actually make you feel more energized during the day, and clearing your head while working out can help you focus when you need to get your work done. Exercising also helps you sleep better because your body will naturally want to rest more—so those eight hours will be more productive. In the morning, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to take on the day!
4. Stay hydrated
Especially after a long run at the gym or after a fun night out, it’s important to rehydrate your body. Drinking a lot of water can help keep toxins from sticking around in your system, and it can give your body more energy throughout the day so you feel less lethargic.
5. Eat well
Eating more fruits and vegetables will give your body more energy. When your body isn’t struggling to digest fatty, sugary foods, it can be using that energy to strengthen your immune system. Eating well will help keep your immune system strong and ready to fight off any germs that come your way!
6. Wash your hands
It sounds so simple, but it is especially important to wash your hands in the winter. Think of it this way: you go into Carm or Dewick, get your ID swiped by one of the attendants, get your food, and start eating. Think of how many sick people who haven’t washed their hands gave their IDs to the attendants before you. All of their germs are now on your hands, and you’re about to eat! So washing your hands can not only prevent you from getting sick, but can also prevent others from getting sick by not spreading around germs.
7. Don’t share food or drinks
It sounds tempting to try a bite of a really good dish your friend ordered at a restaurant, but is it worth getting sick? Sharing food and drinks can be the fastest way to catch contagious illnesses. Everyone shares cups at parties, so germs can spread really easily there (cough, cough mono). Hint: alcohol doesn’t kill the germs on a red cup. Try to get your hands on an unused cup, or even bring your own, so you can avoid other people’s germs to the best of your ability.
Photo sources: http://www.pacific.edu/Images/administration/finance/hr/healthy-heart.jpg , http://morrine.deviantart.com/art/fresh-orange-juice-361061345 , http://alx.bz/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/jogging.jpg , http://homefoodsafety.org/vault/2499/web/images/clean%20hands%20white%20sink%20v_SM.jpg , http://carriageandhorses.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Garden-Salad.jpg