It is a given that you will get sick sometime within your freshman year of college. You are constantly surrounded by people and are living in close quarters with those around you. You are sharing a bathroom and a bedroom with someone that you have never met, and you are sitting at desks that are sat at by probably twenty other students that week.
Getting sick is inevitable, but there are ways you can boost your immune system and maybe avoid a few trips to student health services. And, believe it or not, there are ways to avoid getting others around you sick, too!
Come to College With a Medicine Cabinet
Medicine is expensive, but if you have it on hand and you find yourself with a cold a few weeks into school, you will at least be prepared. And if you are prepared, aren’t you less likely to even get sick? I recommend bringing a few different types of medicine that will help you if you are feeling a little under the weather.
Allergy medicine is key. Even if you do not typically have allergies, being in a different place and climate can change that. Cough medicine or NyQuil or something of the sort will be helpful for keeping a restful night of sleep when you are sick. Have a decongestant on hand for when you are stuffy. And my personal favorite: saline solution. Saline nasal spray is pretty cheap compared to heavy-duty medicines, so if you forget to bring a small pharmacy, it won’t break the bank.
Vitamin C
Start taking some Vitamin C before you even move in. I came to college with a mega container of this to jump-start my immune system. If you take one every morning at breakfast, you will do your immune system a huge favor.
Sleep
Although this may seem obvious, sleep is extremely important in avoiding the plague. The recommended number of hours for adults is six-10 each night, but once classes and student orgs kick in to high gear, this number can be hard to achieve.
If you are feeling a cold coming on, staying up late is not ideal. So, when you have a lot on your plate, aim for at least six hours of sleep each night, and feel free to take a quick 20-30 minute nap during the day if illness is really taking a toll on you.
Avoiding alcohol also helps to improve your sleeping habits. Since alcohol interrupts your sleep cycle, it can hurt that restful night of sleep that you might need to stay healthy.
Be a Good Neighbor
People will not be very happy with you if you get them sick. So, when you aren't feeling well, it is important to be cautious of those around you. As I said before, you are living in very close quarters with others. There are many precautions you should take to avoid spreading your germs other than just washing you hands thoroughly (which you should do anyways).
If the trash is filled with your tissues or your food, you should be the one to empty it. Your roommate should not be responsible for disposing of your germs.
Spray down surfaces, especially the ones you share. In general, I mostly keep to my own personal area, but even more so when I am sick. Whenever I had a cold, I sprayed down every surface while my roommate was out. This included every doorknob, the microwave, the fridge, my desk and dresser, and the bathroom sink. The last thing I wanted was an endless cycle of illness in my dorm room.
Even though the plague is likely unavoidable, being prepared and taking a few extra steps to prevent it can’t really hurt anyone.
