We all have those dreaded mornings where we wake up with a scratch in the back of our throat. You have an exam in a few days, an interview tomorrow, and fun weekend plans: all of which hang in the balance. College is a breeding ground for illness, basically preschool 2.0, and unlike high school there are no “sick days.” So how do you survive it? Here are ten strategies I have used to defeat the common cold:
1. Bring Tissues EVERYWHERE
In high school there was always a nice box of tissues waiting for you in the back of the room when you needed them, but in college you’re on your own. This can make for a pretty scarring experience when you feel a drip coming on while squished in the middle of a row during lecture and can’t easily sneak by to sprint to the bathroom. The solution: bring tissues everywhere you go. Wilbur Cross used to give out free mini tissue packages (I’m pretty sure I went through at least 10) but now that they have run dry, it’s on you go to either stock your bag with tissues from home, or grab a roll of toilet paper from a bathroom and lug it around all day like me!
2. Water is your best friend
Drink, Drink, DRINK! I’m not a doctor, but the one thing I do know is: the more hydrated your body is, the better able it will be to fight your cold. Grab your largest water bottle and make it a goal to fill it as many times as possible each day.
3. Lozenges, Ibuprofen, Sudafed, etc.
Going to class or activities can be dreadful when you have a cold; be sure to use the over-the-counter drugs that can help you function, or even fall asleep. Although, make sure you read the labels and take the appropriate amount of each medicine, otherwise you will end up feeling worse than you started (advice from experience, sadly).
4. Take a weekend for yourself
You may have had fabulous plans for the weekend, but the best way to get back to feeling 100% is to take the weekend off and get some rest. Trust me, your body will thank you.
5. Sleep
Enough said…
6. Sore throat remedy: Soup and tea
My colds always start out as sore throats and it can be excruciatingly painful to drink or eat during this time. My solution: soup and tea. CVS has microwavable soups that aren’t half bad, and tea is great for soothing the throat or clearing mucus (especially if you add honey!)
7. Visit Student Health Services/ Urgent Care
If your cold is lasting longer than usual, or you think something else is up, don’t be afraid to use Student Health Services or Urgent Care for professional expertise. If you’re anything like me, sometimes all you need is confirmation that you don’t have one of the million diseases you’ve probably researched online (fellow hypochondriacs, I’m with you).
8. Make friends with people who can send you notes in class
If you do end up skipping class, which often times is in your best interest, be sure to make a friend who can send you the notes/ keep you up-to-date on your courses.
9. Hand sanitizer
Prevent future sickness, as well as prevent yours from spreading. We all thank you!
10. Stop getting angry about things you can’t control
Sure, you probably could have prevented getting sick, but now that you are sick there is no reason to get upset about it. Instead, focus your energy on getting better and completing as much work as you can!