Cold and flu season is upon us and it's my first one where I'm technically on my own.
Not to be dramatic but I never realized how much I actually needed my mom while I was sick until now. So here I am, apart from her and wishing I could fall into a coma until this is over with. I have absolutely no idea how to take care of myself, but I'm a work-in-progress.
I'm sure a lot of my fellow college students can relate to how I'm feeling at the moment. So here are just a few of the lessons I've learned while sick and away at school:
Seriously, just don't miss class (unless you're contagious, of course).
In high school, it was totally okay to miss class for a week. You'd just come back, collect your missing work, someone would fill you in on the details, and it just wasn't a big deal.
In college, you can miss ONE DAY of class, come back and they've already covered chapters 11-15 and you're left in the dust.
Vomit at your own risk.
I know, gross, but it's just something that happens sometimes.
Remember when you'd go to puke and you'd miss whatever you were supposed to be puking in but you didn't have to worry because mom would clean it up for you? Okay, well that's not okay anymore because if you do it now you're just gonna have to clean it up yourself and I don't know about you guys but that's just not okay with me.
WARNING: take NyQuil at your own risk
Remember what I said about how you don't want to miss any class unless you are DYING? Okay well, let me just tell you right now: DO NOT TAKE NYQUIL UNLESS YOU PLAN ON SLEEPING THROUGH THE REST OF THE SEMESTER.
Trust me, I've learned the hard way, and you do not want that problem on top of everything else.
Tissues are more important than you think
Listen to me on this one: you can never have enough tissues!
At home, I never had to worry because mom had everything, but it's different now and I had to learn the hard way that toilet paper might temporarily do the trick but it won't be worth it when you've rubbed your nose raw and you look like Rudolph.
Smells are EVERYTHING
I also highly recommend investing in a diffuser. Peppermint oil is a LIFESAVER when you can't breathe.
But if you'd rather not spend the money then Vick's VapoRub works just the same.
Cough drops are a must-have
Literally, everyone will thank you if you invest in a value size bag of cough drops! I am not kidding, there is nothing more annoying than someone hacking up a lung while you're trying to concentrate, or even sleep (sorry roomie, I'm trying).
Trust me guys, you might think I'm being a little extra now, but you'll thank me later when you've spent your first sick day in your dorm/apartment alone, and wishing you had your mom around to take care of you.
