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Health and Wellness

This Flu Season, Please Follow These 6 Simple Rules

As a sick person or as someone around a sick person, here's how to behave.

Celine McMonigal

Dec 28, 2018

Boise State University

318

Pixabay

Sick people need to be conscious and considerate of the healthy people around them. There is a fine line between "powering through it" and just being stupid—take care of yourself, but don't shirk your responsibilities if you can help it. Healthy people need to be kind and respectful to sick people. I'm not sure why this is such a difficult concept. Here's some rules we should all stick to in order to help ourselves and the people around us stay healthy.

1. Know when to stay home

If you have something highly contagious—STAY AWAY!!! If you have a fever, you are contagious. If you are throwing up, you are a biohazard. If you are diagnosed with something yucky (strep, the flu, mono, etc.) you are contagious so please stay away from all healthy people.

2. Know when to power through

Being sick sucks, but having nonnegotiable responsibilities while sick sucks even worse. Know your limits, know what you should and shouldn't do, and do that. I have gone to school with a 102 degree fever (and stayed far away from everyone, keeping my mouth covered) because I had a presentation and if I didn't attend my group mates would've failed. Responsibilities don't go away when you're sick.

3. Actively protect others

If you have something contagious but you need to leave your house—wear a surgical mask, load up on the hand sanitizer, and try not to breathe on or touch anyone. I had a nonnegotiable responsibility (callbacks for a play I auditioned for) while I had a viral infection (and a fever) so I wore a surgical mask, didn't touch anyone, and got it done.

4. Be kind

If you are healthy and you say anything remotely close to "Stay away from me," you're being mean. Sick people know to stay away from you, you don't have to tell them because you're just ostracizing them further even though they already feel awful (literally).

5. Try to help

Please offer to help sick people. Telling someone, "Let me know if you need anything," can go a long way! And even if they say they don't need anything, they may just not want to ask. If they have a sore throat—bring them a fruit smoothie! If they have a cold—bring them hot soup! Or just offer advice of how to feel better (what medicine to take, etc.)

6. Respect

If a sick person says they want to be left alone because of whatever sickness they have, do not force a hug on them (never force a hug on anyone ever, but that's a different story) and don't force them to let you do something to take care of them.

With this "new" knowledge, whether you are sick or healthy, please put forth the effort to be a courteous and considerate human being.

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

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Recommended for you

This Flu Season, Please Follow These 6 Simple Rules

As a sick person or as someone around a sick person, here's how to behave.

1. Know when to stay home

2. Know when to power through

3. Actively protect others

4. Be kind

5. Try to help

6. Respect

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The Best Lines from the Fab Four

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you'll love me too. I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you. I don't care too much for money. Money can't buy me love

All you need is love, love is all you need

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

Obviously the best superpower.

There have been many lessons learned.

1. The importance of traditions.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

3. How to give back.

4. What the word "community" really means.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

10. How to work for what I want.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

12. How to be humble.

13. To be well-rounded.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

16. To be prepared for anything.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

18. How to be creative.

19. To brush off gossip.

I have never been so thankful to know you.

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

Don't freak out

Email the professor

Attend the first class

Keep attending class

Have a backup plan

Remember that everything works out at the end

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