By Kelanie Cuadrado, Staff Writer
Even though everyone feels grown up in college, in reality, college is a lot like kindergarten. All the kids are thrown together, except this time it is in crowded basement parties and lecture halls as opposed to being thrown together in the playground. Everyone is behind on sleep because some students might decide to party and act like they live in a jungle when one decides it is bed time. Germs are everywhere because some people don’t know how to clean up after themselves. There’s an exposure to new people, places and, of course, illnesses. So, what does one do when one is sick and has to spend all day in their dorm? This may seem like a recipe for inevitable disaster, but hope is not lost. To stay alive and well, here are some ideas to consider.
Watch Netflix! Netflix may have some boring movies, but sometimes they have really good shows and maybe one might get lucky and find a good movie. It’s better than just staring at the ceiling wall all day while coughing out a lung.
Get some sleep. When there’s a weeknight that doesn’t have one slammed with work, don’t stay up until 4 a.m. Stop Snapchatting pictures to a roommate. Go to sleep. It may feel like there’s never have any time to do what one wants while in college such as not studying and watching one’s favorite TV shows. However, now is not the time! There’s a great need to get rest, and if it doesn’t happen, regret will visit in the morning.
Be hygienic. Another piece of seemingly obvious advice, yet the world would be surprised to know that some people don’t shower every day. Many times people will go to the gym or run errands all day without going home to shower or even change underwear. “Wear flip flops into the shower and wash your bed sheets at least twice a month.” Don’t neglect the bed sheets. It’s not hygienic. Keeping your area clean will help one stay much healthier. Not only that, but one won’t have to worry about roaches sneaking in while one is sleeping in the shower. Most important of all, wash your hands! To the surprise of many, many people do not wash their hands. Who knows what they might have touched before they shook hands? Unless one wants to be known as the roommate who stinks like a skunk, it is highly suggested that one keeps their body and personal space as clean as possible.
Finally, call a doctor. The longer one waits to get medical attention, the worse it may get. Disease doesn’t care about convenience. Midterm or not, it’s important to tell one’s symptoms to an expert as soon as possible. Hopefully it’s not as serious as what a Google search can lead one to believe, but if it is correct, at least those symptoms of conjunctivitis, strep, sinus infection, etc., were detected early. Also, visiting the doctor will ensure one gets the medicine needed to sleep or feel a little better.
