Now that winter is rolling around here on campus, so is the flu and a myriad of other sicknesses. Being sick in college is much different than being sick at home. For one, there is no one to take care of you the way your mom does, and somehow, there isn't a fully stocked medicine cabinet at your disposal. Learning how to be sick in college comes with a fast and hard learning curve. Here are 10 things that can help:
1. This is not a joke, sleep all day.
Seriously, when you are sick, with anything, the best thing to do is sleep. Besides going to class, and maybe not even that, cancel any unnecessary plans and spend as much time sleeping as you can. If it happens to be midterms or finals, at least get a good nights rest and don't stress yourself out and get overtired. Sleep is the best cure for any illness.
2. Go to the store and buy medicine.
I know that medicine is expensive and that you might have to walk a little bit to go and get it, but ignoring your symptoms and not treating them is not an option. Multi-symptom daytime and nighttime medicine will help you survive this!
3. Drink Fluids.
Do not drink coffee, drink water or Gatorade to keep you hydrated. Especially if you have the flu, you need to make sure that you don't dehydrate because that is going to suck even worse. Keep a water bottle with you in bed and make sure you are trying to drink some every hour.
4. Watch Netflix.
Stay in bed and if you're not sleeping, rest. Relax and binge watch your current show, because as of now, you're dead to the world. There is nothing wrong with accepting that things are just going to have to wait and focusing on getting better.
5. Call your parents.
Being sick alone for the first time sucks. It's going to make you want to cry, but your parents know how much it sucks and they are worried about you. Call them and tell them that you are still alive. They will also be able to tell you how much and what to take and just generally make you feel better.
6. Use the good tissues.
On top of being sick, no one wants a raw, chapped nose. While you are at the drug store, buy the tissues with aloe or lotion and put chapstick or petroleum jelly on your nose to try and combat looking like Rudolph.
7. Go the doctor.
If you have a campus clinic or some kind of medical care, MAKE AN APPOINTMENT! Even if it is the common cold or something worse, the medical clinic is there to help you in any way they can. They can tell you what medicines you should take and how to best treat your illness.
8. Make sure you eat.
Even when this may sound like the last thing you want to do, eating will help you keep your strength up and keep medicine down. Even it if it's Saltine crackers or good old chicken soup, anything will help.
9. Disinfect you room.
Communal living is probably the reason you got sick, and if its not, still make sure to wash your hands all the time and use some Clorox or Lysol wipes to wipe down door handles, sink handles, and common areas to try and help stop the spread of germs.
10. Ask for help.
Everyone knows how much it sucks to get sick, so ask for help. If you really can't make it out to get yourself medicine, ask your roomie. If you missed a class, ask your classmates for notes, and ask professors for extensions. It can't hurt to ask because more often than not, people get it, and they know how you're feeling.
Just remember, everything is going to be okay, you will start to feel better soon and you're not dying. You can make up everything you missed, the best thing to do is to take care of you. Stay positive and feel better!
