How To Avoid the Colby Plague

 

Fall and winter in Maine are, and have always been, sick seasons for everyone. This year, the 

cold circulating around the Hill this fall has been dubbed “the Plague.” 

 

With the combination of midterm stress, the dropping temperature, and anxiously awaiting the 

arrival of Fall Break, it’s difficult not to catch this common cold. However, here are a few tips to 

avoid the Plague. 

 

1. Warmth: Sweaters, boots, hot chocolate, apple cider. You name it: warmth keeps life 

better on a chilly autumn day in Maine. People may not actually “catch cold,” but 

keeping yourself toasty and comfortable certainly helps! 

2. Sleep: The famous college cure-all. Colby even has a club – the Colby Napping Club –

dedicated to sleep. Keeping yourself well-rested and away from exhaustion, especially 

during midterms, is a great way to make sure you don’t get sick! 

3. Keep Calm (and Carry On): Midterms can be stressful. College itself can be stressful. So 

many negative things are directly caused by stress, including the Plague. The best way to 

avoid this cold is to keep yourself relaxed throughout October, whether it be with comfort 

food, Netflix binges, or time with your friends. 

 

For those of us – including yours truly – who have already failed at dodging the cold, here are 

some ways to get better quick!

 

1. Warmth: This may be a repeat, but it helps on both ends. Keep yourself cozy with warm 

drinks, sweaters, and flannels, and you’ll be on the mend right away. 

2. SLEEP: Sound familiar? Illness hates nothing more than someone who gets enough time 

in bed every night. 

3. Take Care of Yourself: This can be difficult in college, particularly when the exams and 

papers start to pile into a stack on top of one another and you feel the need to skip meals, 

skip sleep, and spend every waking hour in Miller. Yet everything turns out for the better 

when you just take care of yourself. Space out your work and put aside “me time” in your 

busy daily schedule. After all, YOU and your health should be number one on your list of 

priorities. 

 

Good luck on midterms everyone, and have a relaxing Fall Break! 

HCXO