How to NOT get sick during midterms
By: Jamie Wu ‘18
Midterms season is already upon us, my friends. And with that, also everyone’s-getting-sick-season. But fear not, here are 5 easy steps you can take to stop yourself from getting sick!
1. Don’t share drinks or food
As college students, we are always sharing food and drinks because it’s part of being social. But realize that there are millions of germs being transferred from someone else’s lips to yours every time that happens. Not to scare you but Herpes Simplex Type 1 (which causes cold sores around your mouth), the common cold and strep throat are all diseases that can be transferred through sharing of food and drink because it contains saliva! If you know a friend a sick, kindly ask that they refrain from drinking from your cup or eating your food.
2. Get 8 hours of sleep
We all need more sleep. Whether we’re staying up watching Netflix, going on Instagram for the 10th time in one hour or desperately trying to cram for our midterm, college students get an average of 6 hours of sleep every night–2 hours less than the recommended 8. When you are sleep deprived, your immune system weakens, your memory doesn’t consolidate as well and you have more trouble concentrating in school.
3. Eat nutrient filled food!
Your body gets all your energy from the foods you eat. So stay away from processed carbs and sugary drinks because it’ll give you sugar crashes and lethargy. Instead, try a balanced meal with some of these foods below!
- Wholegrains such as wholemeal pasta, wholemeal bread, brown rice
- Fish with healthy fats, such as salmon
- Berries like blueberries, raspberries & strawberries
- Leafy greens like broccoli, spinach & asparagus
- Nuts like almonds
- Legumes like split peas & lentils
4. Stress manage
The number one thing USC that negatively affects USC students the most is excessive stress (you can see this on a cool graph in the Office of Wellness and Heath Promotion in the Student Health Center). Stress induces anxiety and poor sleep, among a variety of other health issues. So if you have 5 tests and presentations next week, plan out what you’re going to do each day to manage those stressful situations. Does it mean starting an assignment for 1 class a week earlier or taking 20 minute breaks between assignments? Know that you’ll be a lot less stressed if you don’t cram everything in at the last minute. It also helps if you work on projects with your classmates so you can keep each other on track!
5. Be conscious of your body
If your throat is getting itchy or you’re sensing a headache, take a break. It’s probably your body telling you you need to rest. When you’re constantly going from point A to point B, you neglect your body by not being still. Look for signs such as breaking out or heavy eye bags or a sore neck and then be aware of how school is affecting you. For example if your eyes are sore, maybe it’s because you’ve been sitting in front of the screen for 2 hours and you need to get up and stretch. Once you’re aware, it’s a lot easier to spot problems and seek out solutions.
Hope this helps! And good luck staying healthy :)
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