Being sick at college is an entirely different experience than being sick while at home. For one, college professors have no sympathy for you missing class, in fact, most professors will only accept a doctor's note stating you can not go to class, or will otherwise expect you to be there. For another reason, there are so many people on campus that you are bound to get sick at some point, especially if you live in the dorm where once someone on your floor is sick everyone becomes sick. So here are some tips and tricks for making it through the semester when you are most likely going to become sick.
1. Buy Tissues
Trust me the investment is worth it because teachers and classrooms no longer supply them for you.
2. Open Your Window
Opening the window, even if you only do it while you're at class will help get fresh air in and help get rid of the germs in the room. Also, this is especially a good thing to do when you're sharing a room in the dorm to try to prevent your roommate or yourself from catching whatever they have.
3. WASH YOUR HANDS!!!
No seriously, you come into contact with at least 100 kids per day in the dining center alone.
4. Take the Day
If you really can not make it through the day do not be afraid to take the day to sleep in. Pushing yourself will probably make your cold worse, the best thing to do is to sleep and see how your feeling tomorrow.
5. Medicine
Advil can cure a lot more than just cramps. So if you really need to get through the day, take the recommended amount on the bottle to help reduce your fever (temporarily), headache, and stomachache.
There are other medicines you can take too to clear your nose but I would suggest you avoid anything if you can. Medicine should really only be used if you absolutely need to make a class that day and will not survive without it, otherwise, let your body fight it to build up your immune system.
6. Soup and Water
Drinking water is really important because it's how you're going to flush the toxins out of your body. Soup, particularly chicken noodle soup, is good for you because it helps keep you hydrated, as well as the steam is believed to help relieve a stuffy nose.
7. Exercise
Believe it your not, your coach wasn't lying to you when they said practice would help you get rid of your cold. It could actually help relieve your stuffy nose, however, there is a limit and that is if you have a fever or any symptoms below your neck (such as muscle soreness). I repeat if you have a fever do NOT exercise. You actually risk raising your internal temperature and making your cold worse.
8. Chapstick
Chapstick is always a good thing to have around especially when your nose is stuffed up because let's face it when your sick your lips are cracked and bleeding halfway through the day.
9. Have Good Friends
Sometimes it helps when your friends are willing to grab you something from the dining center, spend a night in, or help you catch up on the things you missed. It always helps when you know you can depend on someone to help you out or make you laugh when you feel crummy.
Being sick in college is never fun, but hopefully, these tips and tricks will help you to survive another week. Remember if you can't make it just take a day, sometimes these tips just aren't anything compared to taking a day.
