Rush is the hardest two weeks of sorority life. We spend long days and even longer nights preparing for the week and each night individually. Unfortunately being surrounded by so many people for a constant two weeks will probably lead to a plummet in your immune system.

You’re hugging people, standing awkwardly close to girls to hear what they are saying, and the amount of germs being passed around is terrifying. Between icky coughing, screaming chants and sleep deprivation your immune system is bound to take a hit. I’ve seen firsthand the toll that rush workshops and recruitment takes on your body. I’ve seen girls lose their voices, heard about people pass out from dehydration, and get annoyed by seeing people get grouchy due to a lack of sleep and hunger. This is going to happen, we’re not robots, we are humans, but i’ve gathered a few tips that might prevent or help ease some of the symptoms of recruitment week.

1. Drink Water.

I can not stress this enough, it gets uncomfortably hot no matter what side of requirement you may be on. So, try and stash a water bottle to sip between parties and eat fruits and veggies with high water content.

2. EAT.

Eating lots of fruits and veggies is always good but you also have to feed your body to keep up it’s energy source during this stressful week. Try to eat a lot of protein and a good amount of carbs, fiber, and good fats to keep your body going through those long nights. I know it’s hard to stay away from high sugar, salt, and fat foods during this time especially when everyone is stressed out. I know I love junk too, but try your best to limit these kinds of foods.

3. Sleep.

Recruitment comes with all kinds of feelings, nervous, excited, and stressed. All of this will take a toll on your body if you do not give yourself a break. So, go to sleep when you get home from rush and if you exercise keep it light this week and avoid screens 30 minutes before bed. I know sleep is limited this week but if you can try to squeeze in 20 minute naps throughout the day if possible.

4. De-stress.

I know it’s hard to find time between classes, setting up for recruitment, and post recruitment clean ups to destress but if you can try your best to. Try a short hot bath before bed, or maybe a couple episodes of Netflix (try not to binge watch you really need your rest this week) or anything that helps you unwind your mind because you can make yourself sick and hurt your immune system from stressing out so much.

5. No Boys, No Booze, No Bars.

There's a reason for this rule honestly. Stressing and crying at 3 a.m. about a fuckboy not texting you back leaves you without sleep, binge drinking and being out all night leaves you dehydrated and hungover the next morning, not allowing you to be your best during recruitment. The rule only applies for a week, it’ll be over soon.

6. Cough drops, hot tea and honey.

If you’re like me two weeks of shouting, chanting, and screaming leaves me horse. Recruitment can be called many things, but quiet it not one of them. It gets loud during parties and the chanting will kill your voice, but these are the things we do for recruitment week. I applaud you if you don’t lose yourself, but some are not as blessed as you. Make sure to take good care of your throat and voice because without it recruitment week would be a wreck.