So, the weather is changing and the air is cooling, and we all know what that means: flu season. Whether or not you decide to get the flu shot, there’s a pretty good chance all of us will get some kind of sick this season. Colds and coughs are inevitable in a school environment, but there are some ways you can protect yourself and help yourself feel better faster.
1. Wash your hands.
I know this is old news, but it really will help to slow down the spread of sickness. If you don’t always have access to a restroom after sneezing or before eating, carry around a pocket-sized hand sanitizer just to be sure.
2. Don’t touch your face.
We all do it unconsciously, whether we will admit to it or not. But keeping your fingers away from your face (unless it’s directly after washing them) can be a sure way to avoid catching the sniffles.
3. Immune support.
Do everything you can this time of year to help protect and strengthen your immune system! This goes from getting enough sleep to taking a multivitamin everyday, and every little measure you take to protect your immune system helps. If you start to feel the symptoms of a cold beginning, some say taking zinc supplements will help you either stop the sickness in its tracks or speed up the length of the cold. Supplements like Airborne or Emergen-C are tasty ways to make sure you are giving some love to your immune system this fall.
4. Health comes before school.
At some point you’ll wake up in the morning with the dreaded dry mouth, stuffy nose, sore throat, etc. It’s so important in times like these to put your health before your schoolwork. Going to class when you are really sick not only drains you and makes you feel worse, but puts other students at risk of infection as well. In my experience, most professors are accommodating when it comes to getting sick–and a quick email is worth it for the chance to take a day off classes and rest.
Photo courtesy of empowernetwork.com.