I got sick. My roommate got sick. Then after a couple weeks, my roommate got sick again, and it was worse the second time around.
My apartment has been a "germfest" for the past few weeks. Between that, work, and other responsibilities, blogging fell to the bottom or my priority list.
While that might not be the best excuse to some, that is the realest reason I could give you.
One of my New Year's resolutions was to practice more self-care, and I'm trying to stick to it. This is difficult for many, especially me since I grew up in a household where I was encouraged to work through illness.
Bob Costas is another example of this. After trying to cover the Olympics despite an eye infection, Bob Costas and his red eyes are getting replaced by Matt Lauer.
Let Bob be a reminder to you that nobody likes a sick person at work. People would rather have you quarantine yourself at home than spread your cold, flu, or whatever it is to the rest of the workplace or classroom.
College life can get so hectic with classes, homework, extracurricular activities, jobs, and other responsibilities outside of school.
DON'T USE BUSYNESS AS AN EXCUSE TO NEGLECT YOURSELF. Here are some starting points for taking care of yourself:
- Use your college's health center: When I started college, I knew that I could make a doctor's appointment at my school's health center. I also knew that I could get prescriptions filled at its pharmacy. It was not until later that I became aware of the center's satellite offices that offered "cold kits" and other items for urgent care. It also was not until later that I found out about the Dial-A-Nurse line that I could call 24 hours a day in case I wasn't sure how badly I needed to see a healthcare professional in person. Many colleges' health centers offer a similar hotline for urgent care. Be sure to save your school's hotline on your cell. Also go online to the health center's website to see what other services it offers. You might not ever need these services, but it is wise to know what is available to you and your friends regardless.
- Minimize the risk of spreading sickness: If you're really sick, don't try to be a hero by attending every class, social event, or work meeting. Assess if these things are that essential to attend. When I supervised student workers, some would try to tough it out and come to the office anyway. When they were really ill, I didn't hesitate to send them home. Not only was I concerned about their health, I was concerned about the health of myself and others working in the close quarters of our office. Chances are your professors, work supervisors, and classmates will have the same concerns if you try to work through sickness.
- Practice healthier habits even if you're already healthy: When I'm sick, I tend to be the most cognizant of eating well and sleeping a lot because, well … I have no choice. Even if you aren't sick, find ways to maximize your wellness. Rutgers University offers online 101 Health and Wellness Tips for College Students. Your college probably offers a similar health guide for students. Take a look at this Rutgers guide or the one offered by your school. The Rutgers guide has eight categories: Diet, Exercise, Sleep, Sexual Health, Illness, Stress, Mental Health, and Miscellaneous. Survey each section and ask yourself how well you are really doing in each one. Make adjustments to your daily routine where necessary. While you may not see the results overnight, you will feel the difference in the long term. Who knows. You might get sick less.
Is there anything else you would add to this list? Comment to let me know if there's anything I missed!
