How to Survive the Sickest Time of Year on the Hill

As someone who endured mono, that awful stomach virus, and two cases of strep throat her freshman year, I now have plenty of survival strategies for avoiding illness on the Hill. It’s tough to avoid sickness altogether, but following these tried-and-true tips will both lessen the number of times you get sick and how long you it takes you to recover.

1. SLEEPIt sounds so simple, but it’s actually quite the battle for most people to get enough sleep in college. There’s so much going on around campus, and you don’t want to miss out! You also have an insane amount of work that you stay up late finishing. As a consequence, you end up hitting the hay at 4:00 in the morning and then dragging yourself out of bed for your 9 a.m. Believe me, I’ve been there, and I know that it starts to wear you down after a while. So, I’m going to be that person and tell you that you need to get some sleep. Skipping out on one Wednesday night out or one early morning class won’t kill you. On the other hand, it will be pretty rough if you can’t do anything but lie in bed for an entire week because you’re sidelined with the flu, which is exactly what will happen if you push your body to its limits.
2. EatThis is another really simple thing that a lot of people, including me, sometimes neglect when they get caught up in work or socializing. Kimball is far from most dorms and libraries, and it takes a lot of time out of your day to eat a full meal. I suggest keeping some microwave meals stored in your room at all times, along with some granola bars in your backpack so you’re never starving. Not only will you be miserable, starving yourself can mess with your metabolism and actually lead to weight gain, so don’t use this as an excuse to drop a couple pounds. You’re lovely, I promise! Treat your body like the wonderful gift it is.  
3. Drink lots of waterHere it is—the classic advice that every Mom gives that most people (including me) can never seem to follow. As with food, try to carry a water bottle around and drink plenty of fluids at meals. Water is both hydrating and healing—it helps flush out your system and keep you feeling good throughout the day! Also, if you do come down with something, try drinking plenty of Gatorade and tea. Gatorade is especially good if you’re having a gastrointestinal problem, because it replenishes your body’s electrolytes, while tea is perfect for soothing a sore throat or just keeping warm on a frosty, winter day.
4. Relax a littleSome people bottle up their stress and exasperation until they physically make themselves sick. Whether you’ve been struggling in a class or had a fight with your months-long hookup, refusing to vent about difficult situations suppresses your immune system and makes you more vulnerable to seasonal infections. This is a tough time for a lot of people in terms of academics, and the cold weather certainly doesn’t help you feel relaxed. That means it’s especially important to spend a few minutes every day chatting with your roomie or jamming out to some tunes for a study break. This may mean that you have to make little sacrifices once in a while, maybe neglecting a long reading or skipping a sesh at the gym. I am telling you now that it is better to do this then end up with a terrible sickness that will take a week or more to recover from.
5. Stock up on the medsSadly, it’s pretty likely that you’ll end up sick once or twice during the year, no matter how valiantly you try to keep healthy, especially if it’s your first year on the Hill. You can definitely minimize the length and severity of whatever you catch, though, by stocking up on essentials like ibuprofen, pepto-bismol, cough drops, and Nyquil. It’s never a good idea to overdo it, and you should keep in mind that some products (like ibuprofen and pepto-bismol) should never be taken at the same time. Read labels, take only the recommended doses, and try to only use medicine when you truly need it. BUT, don’t hesitate to take a dose of Nyquil when it’s the third day in a row that you can’t get any sleep due to a nasty cold—you’ll thank yourself in the morning.

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