What To Do When You're Sick In College | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

10 Things To Do When You Are Sick In College That May Save You From Missing Class

It's already bad enough being homesick.

217
Girl

In This Article:

I'm currently writing this as I'm in my dorm room, coughing my lungs out and definitely annoying my roommates, even though they're too nice to let me know. It's tough being ill and not having the loving convenience of your mom giving you a spoonful of cough syrup or making you a warm cup of tea to ease your throat. Here are some things to keep in mind when not feeling well to help you recover fast!

Drink plenty of fluids

Everyone knows the benefits of drinking water. Staying hydrated while sick is very important because this will help wash germs out of your immune system and can also help loosen mucus, which will make recovery much faster.

Eat healthier

No matter what, eating healthier, along with drinking water as stated previously, is always a good option to overcome an inner illness. Eating healthier can definitely make you feel better and make recovery faster since you're treating your body right. Swap out the coke and bag of chips for a plate of fruits or veggies.

Sleep!

I know being sick might stress someone out because, not only do they physically feel horrible, their lack of energy is holding them back from getting actual work/responsibilities done. Your physical health should always be prioritized first before your assignments. Besides, they cannot be effectively completed unless you start feeling well.

Let your roommates know you're not feeling well

This would be helpful in their case and considerate on your part. It's important for your roommates to know if you're sick, since you're all sharing a tight-knit living space together, and we all know how fast and easy germs can spread. Letting them know would allow them to take extra precaution not to touch your belongings or food, and can even help you by giving you tissues if they're a nice person.

Communicate with your professors

When you feel like you're dying, it definitely is debatable whether you should go to class or not. You don't feel good, but at the same time, you don't want to be penalized for being absent and miss writing down important notes. Sometimes, you may not even afford to miss a class because of how much attendance matters. But if it comes down to drastic measures and you absolutely cannot be present, you should always email your professor, letting them be aware of your illness and asking about the information you missed in class. This shows that you still care about your education and demonstrates qualities of responsibility.

Go to the health center on your college campus

If you're well enough to get up and walk outside, visiting your campus health center is highly suggested and would definitely be beneficial. This is the best place to get professional treatment on colds, sore throats, coughs, and other types of common illnesses.

Give your parents a call

I mean, you should always call your parents, regardless if you're sick or not. But in all seriousness, your parents are probably the only people in this world who genuinely care about your wellbeing and would want to know if you're healthy or not. Let them know you're okay, but could be feeling better. Hopefully, they'll drive to visit you with some homemade soup, or send a lovely "get well soon" care package.

Keep up with healthy hygiene

This includes washing your hands after using the bathroom and before meals, carrying hand sanitizer with you during the day, and even cleaning the screens of your phone and laptop, since these places have the most germs and you're touching them constantly.

Be considerate

You don't want your germs to spread and cause other people to get sick, too. Be considerate and always cough/sneeze into your elbow. This is the best way to avoid spreading germs into the air. It's also best to avoid coughing/sneezing into your hands since this is another ideal way for germs to spread.

 Lastly, have the basic necessary treatments with you in your dorm

Sometimes the basics like aspirin, DayQuil, and NyQuil can ease a bad cold or flu significantly. It's also good to carry Halls cough drops with you in your bag throughout the day in case that bad cough gets unbearable.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

15 Times Michael Scott's Life Was Worse Than Your Life

Because have you ever had to endure grilling your foot on a George Foreman?

2536
Michael Scott
NBC

Most of the time, the world's (self-proclaimed) greatest boss is just that, the greatest. I mean, come on, he's Michael Freakin' Scott after all! But every once in a while, his life hits a bit of a speed bump. (or he actually hits Meredith...) So if you personally are struggling through a hard time, you know what they say: misery loves company! Here are 15 times Michael Scott's life was worse than your life:

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

17063
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

3661
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments