7 Tips To Survive Being Sick In College

If we’re being honest with ourselves, students don’t have time to get sick in college. We have tests to study for, projects to complete, sports to play, part-time jobs to work, and essays to write! But whether we like it or not, life goes on even when our immune system lets us down. Follow these tips to survive being sick in college and get better quickly.

1. Get notes from your classmates.

It’s perfectly fine to miss class if you’re sick. In fact, you’ll actually recover faster than if you didn’t stay home, according to those in the medical field. Ask two classmates if they can send their lecture notes to you, even if the professor uploads the slides.

2. Set up a meeting when you’re feeling better.

If possible, try to meet with a TA, classmate, or your professor to review anything that is confusing in the notes that you received from your classmates. This will ensure that by exam time, you’re not scrambling for missing information or trying to teach yourself a complex concept.

3. Tea and soup are your friends.

“Drink your fluids” is a tried and true statement. Warm fluids like tea and soup can help with congestion, inflammation, stress, coughs, and sore throats. Putting honey or lemon juice in your teas will strengthen the effects. Here are specific benefits of different teas and soups:

Ginger (in soups or teas) for sinus trouble and congestion.
Chamomile tea for inflammation and relaxation/better sleep.
Cinnamon tea for coughing and congestion.
Peppermint tea for sore throat.
Chicken soup for sore throat and congestion.

4. Use apple cider vinegar and coconut oil to boost your immune system.

Due to its alkaline properties, one tablespoon of raw apple cider vinegar with “the Mother” can be mixed in a glass of water, tea, or salad dressing to kill bacteria and viruses in your body when you feel like you’re about to get sick. Coconut oil’s high levels of lauric acid is a natural immune system booster. It can be eaten with food, mixed into tea, or swished in your mouth for one minute to kill bacteria (just don’t swallow it!).

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5. You can’t go wrong with traditional over-the-counter meds.

Cough drops, ibuprofen, creams, and liquid medicines are also good for making your days survivable as a sick college student. Although, be careful when taking more than one at a time. Get advice from someone in your school’s health center.

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6. Relax and de-stress.

Despite what some people think, you can’t “sweat out” a cold. Exercising, partying, or any other physical activity can slow down your recovery when you’re sick with any illness. Avoid alcohol (it can make symptoms worse) and try to de-stress by practicing deep breathing, meditating, or taking steamy showers.

7. Visit your school’s health center. They’re trained to give you the best advice.

The staff at your school’s health center will probably know better than anyone else on your campus about how to survive being sick in college. Ask for recommendations on staying healthy and seek help when you’re feeling severely ill.