One of the worst things that can (and will) happen while you're away at school is getting sick. Your mom won't be there to care for you and you'll be completely on your own. Stomach bugs, colds and the flu spread like wildfire through campuses too. It's definitely going to suck, but if you have the right ways to combat it, getting sick might become a little bit more bearable.
1. Be prepared.
Don't wait until you get sick to stock up on all types of medicines. There’s no way you'll even want to leave your bed for a class in the building next door, let alone to hop on the bus and go to the CVS in town. Plus, if you're a baby and 17 years old when you start college, like I was, you can't purchase cold medicine until you turn 18. As a December baby, this meant I had to go my whole first semester without the ability to buy it. Bring anything you need to make your home remedies.
2. Do whatever you can to prevent it.
Bring vitamins to school and make sure you take them at least semi-regularly. It will do wonders for your immune system. You also have to always stay hydrated because that helps every part of your body.
3. Be wary of germy areas.
My roommate swears she caught a nasty stomach bug from going to the gym. Make sure to wipe equipment down before as well as after you use it. Have hand sanitizer in your school bag in case you find yourself one day in a classroom full of sniffling college students. Clorox wipes in your room are also a good idea in case your roommate is sick, and you don't want to touch the refrigerator right after their germ-infested hands were on it.
4. Tea and cough drops will save your throat.
If you ever find yourself with a killer head cold, seek out Throat Coat tea. I promise I’m not exaggerating when I say it will change your life. Whenever I feel a sore throat coming on, the first thing I do is brew myself a cup. I also take a Ricola Honey Lemon throat drop, which somehow perks me up instantly. I think these two items will be the most important things I pack for when I return to school.
5. Take it easy.
It might be hard to stay in and rest for a weekend when you’re not feeling completely yourself, but it will help you so much more than going out. Make sure you don’t overexert yourself by, oh I don’t know, staying up all night at Relay for Life when you already have a nasty cold (which I totally did). Just sitting in class shouldn’t be too awful, but sometimes it really is a good idea to email your professor and stay in bed. Your body will thank you.
These are just a few simple ways to stay on top of your health while at school. It can definitely be hard to keep yourself fully cared for while you stress out over tests and papers, but your well-being is way more important than your GPA.
