How to Nurse your Frat Flu Back to Health

HOW TO KEEP YOURSELF HEALTHY

When you’re a busy college student, eating and staying healthy is probably the last thing on your mind. You’re too busy occupied with acing your classes. It’s important however to pay mind to your health and well-being. Without good health, good grades and a decent social life would be impossible. Most colleges, UGA included, provide a plethora of resources to stay healthy, and lots of people and places to reach out to when you’re not feeling your best. Here are a few tips to stay healthy on a regular basis:

1. The biggest thing is diet. Chances are, you’re probably not eating as healthy as you’re forced to eat at dining halls or cook small meals for yourself. Learn how to properly portion your meals to avoid gaining or losing weight too fast, and to correctly fill yourself. Don’t eat the same meals every day. Eating the same cheesy pasta or sweet bowl of ice cream will definitely cause some issues in the future. As difficult as it might be, make sure you eat breakfast. Drink a lot of water, especially after walking around in the hot sun to classes all day, and limit your intake of alcohol. Though it’s convenient, try not to skip meals, and eat at least a small meal or heavy snack instead. Lastly, bring some vitamin pills or gummies from home and make it a habit daily to take one. If you’re unsure which vitamins to take, start by reading this article and talk to your parents and doctor.
2. Next is making sure you move your body and get exercise in. Most college kids are forced to walk thousands of steps a day walking from class to dorm to dining hall to class. This is honestly the best way to stay active and keep yourself from gaining the dreaded “freshman 15.” Most colleges have a gym that is included in student tuition fees, meaning it’s completely free to use. UGA’s on campus gym, Ramsey, features many different types of ways to stay active. You can weight train, run, swim, play tennis, and even join fitness classes to keep you motivated.
3. Sleep is another huge factor in the health of college students. If you aren’t sleeping right, chances are, nothing else in your schedule is going right either. Sadly, sleep might be more limited than normal if you’re taking a heavy course load or have a week full of exams and big projects. During times like this, utilize whatever free time you have to power nap. Don’t nap for hours on end, but a 20-30 minute nap might actually refresh you and help you feel more productive and less lethargic. It’s also important to try to stick to a regular schedule, so go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day if possible. Avoid all nighters and any sugary treats or drinks right before bed that may keep you up all night. Keep your phone and laptop far away from you to make sure you don’t succumb to any distractions while trying to sleep.

HOW TO FIGURE OUT IF YOU’VE BEEN STRUCK & WHAT TO DO

After a long weekend or a crazy night out, it’s important to take care of yourself, hydrate, and get a lot of rest. During the next few days, you may start to feel symptoms of a cold, like a massive headache, stuffy nose, or a scratchy voice. This might escalate into a strong cough or a completely sore and aching throat. When you begin to feel sick, try following some of these tips to get better faster:

1. Wash your hands for 30 seconds with soap and water to avoid getting more sick and from spreading whatever you have to your peers.
2. Avoid going to class when you’re very sick to make sure you don’t unintentionally give your cold or sickness to your classmates and professors.
3. Drink lots of fluids and take rest when you can. Though trying to relax might be difficult when catching up on schoolwork that you missed because you were sick, it’s crucial for a full recovery.
4. Keep a fully stocked over the counter medicine box. Keep medicines like Tylenol, Advil, NyQuil, and Mucinex to fight whatever feelings of sickness you get during the year. Read more on how to properly stock your medicine cabinet here!
5. Make sure you are completely caught up on vaccines and flu shots to avoid getting sick in the future.

RELAX, REFRESH, REPEAT

When you get sick in college, it seems like the end of the world. You aren’t in your comfy bedroom at home with your parents able to take care of you. You’re on your own. Take it one step at a time. Get tested if you think you may have Covid or other sinus infections. Oftentimes, however, it’s just a cold that tends to go around campus every year. Drink lots of water and avoid doing too many stressful activities to make a full recovery. Keep in mind, you will get sick multiple times during your first year in college, but changing to a healthier lifestyle and following these tips above will speed up your recovery and have you feeling like yourself again in no time!