8 Things You Can Do to Avoid Getting Sick During the Semester

By Meghen Jones

Have you ever missed class because you were too sick and felt like you just couldn’t push through? It can be one of the most stressful scenarios for a college student, especially when you are well into the semester and missing one class can feel as though you missed two or three. That is why it’s important that you take good care of your health by keeping your immune system strong and ready to fight off any unwanted bacteria or viruses.

Getting sick in college can be pretty easy with so many fellow peers, faculty, and staff surrounding you, but there are ways you can prevent it from happening. If you’re wondering the secrets to preserving your health, never fear! uCribs has composed the top 8 ways to avoid getting sick during the most stressful time of year: finals!

Avoid Sharing

I’m pretty you have heard the good ol’ saying that “sharing is caring”. While this may be true, it is also an easy way to spread germs unintentionally. Avoid sharing items such as eating utensils, makeup and makeup brushes, cups, and towels. These things can all easily spread germs, and if that person is sick—even if they don’t quite know yet—then there’s a higher chance that you can receive an unwanted care package of all their symptoms.

Don’t Put Personal Items on Your Bed

So, you have probably had a long day of classes, and you just want to toss your backpack on the bed, kick your shoes off, and relax. But before you toss that backpack on your bed, you may want to reconsider. Your backpack goes with you everywhere—the student lounge, your classes, the university library, and goodness knows where else. One place your backpack should never journey, however, is your bed or pillows. Instead of setting your backpack on the bed, try hanging it on a chair or doorknob, or even placing it in the corner of your room. You could even try giving it a wash every now and then, or a quick spray of Lysol.

Eat a Balanced Diet

We have all been told that eating healthy is super important, and it is! But as college students, we tend to eat a lot of food on-the-good…because, well, you’re always on-the-go yourself with lectures, extracurricular activities, and social activities. We suggest that you trade in that fast food, however, for healthy alternatives to decrease your chances of getting sick. By eating healthy, you are boosting your immune system to help fight off any type of unwanted illness. Load up on plenty of protein, Vitamins A, C, and E, Zinc, Iron, and probiotics! If you need more information, check out our meal planning blog to learn how you can accomplish this on a college budget.

Get Proper Rest

Have you ever felt like you were catching a cold amid not getting enough sleep? Well, your exhaustion can often lead to a case of the sniffles. It’s understandable that you won’t always get your full eight hours of sleep—I mean, with attending classes, studying, and working on top of trying to maintain some sort of social life, it’s obvious that you stay pretty busy. Nevertheless, you should try to rest up as much as you can, so that your immune system can remain strong enough to fight off germs.

Manage Stress

Did you know that your stress levels can lead you down a road straight to sickness? Whenever you stress out about different aspects of your life, it takes a pretty hefty toll on your immune system, and it can even effect how quickly you heal. Instead of bundling all your stress inside, find healthy ways to release it: attend a yoga class, host a movie night with friends, or treat yourself to a night out on the town. Believe it or not, there are many affordable ways to de-stress from the chaotic environment of college.

Stay Hydrated

It’s Wednesday—the day of your only morning class, so of course you want coffee. But while coffee may a common favorite, it is important to stay hydrated with plenty of H20. Water helps our bodies fight off infections, and if we aren’t getting enough, we can dehydrate and, in turn, weaken our body’s ability to fight off sickness.  If you want to opt for something a bit tastier, you can drink a cup of green tea or purchase a water bottle that allows you to infuse that necessary liquid with delicious, fruity flavors.

Wash Your Hands

Imagine all the things that you touch throughout the day…well, maybe you can’t because it really is a bit overwhelming. But let’s face it, whether you try to or not, you encounter a massive amount of germs on the daily basis. To combat this, avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose unless you have just washed your hands. Washing your hands frequently is a great way to prevent illness, and if there isn’t a nearby bathroom in sight, hand sanitizer is always a great alternative to have on-hand. Ha, get it? On hand?

And Whatever You Do…Don’t Push It

Do you ever find yourself trying to push through whenever you begin to feel sick? I think that we’re all guilty of finding every reason not to rest when we start to feel under the weather—especially in college when you are juggling so many plates. Sure, you may have made plans to go out with your friends, but it won’t hurt to skip out on those plans if it means feeling better. Even if it’s a class that you’re hesitant about missing, it’s probably best to shoot an email to your professor to notify them of your current condition, then simply ask to borrow notes from a friend in the same course. It’s true that there is an “all-work, no-rest” aspect of American culture, but at the end of the day, you’ll end up making yourself feel worse—and for much longer, too—if you don’t take it easy.

Getting sick can definitely feel like an inconvenience when you’re already feeling the heavy workload of college life, but with these tips at your disposal, you have a new survival kit of sorts to fight off illness and successfully wrap up your semester.

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