The College Invalid
On one disgustingly hot day in September, 18-year-old me woke up feeling as if my insides had twisted themselves into an impossible knot like that of the necklace that somehow remained permanently tangled around my neck. Before I could begin to consider rifling through the Care Box my mother so methodically packed for my college dorm the summer before, I sat there in bed and cried. My plans for a full day of classes, a cafe date with friends at 3rd Street promenade, and finally starting my paper on Beowulf immediately crumbled in the presence of my surprise stomach bug.
And so, I encountered the inevitable question that must be taken into consideration at some point in every student’s career in higher education: is going to class while battling food poisoning ever a good idea. Some discover their answer through a personal attempt. Although I didn’t have much of an interest in finding out in front of 20+ other students, I did feel a sense of guilt for even considering missing another class in the first place. So, I did the only adult thing I could think of: make a phone call to my mother and cry to her. After listening to my sad symphony of tears, my mother gave me the familiar advice I had heard throughout my childhood: find something healthy to eat and do whatever I needed to do to get my work done and feel better.
I then decided to turn to the infamous Care Box filled to the brim with everything from Theraflu, to the flesh-colored Band-Aids that miraculously matched my skin tone exactly. And thus, I became your regular college invalid plagued by food poisoning from bad tacos (a disaster in itself). Being sick and alone is uncomfortable for anyone to experience but it’s especially terrifying for new college students. No longer do you have the doting parent encouraging you to sip chicken noodle soup out of your favorite bowl and self-medicate with tea that magically appears on your bedside table.
When living away from home for the first time, it’s up to you to look out for you. Thanks to my seemingly weak immune system, I’ve gotten sick enough times since moving to Los Angeles to have learned a little something about doing what I can to stay as healthy as possible. I’m no professional, but I do know how to face off against a couple of bad cafeteria tacos when needed. And so, my dear reader, here are some tips and tricks I’ve practiced to avoid having to break open the old Care Box and to nurse myself back to health when I do.
The Sleeping Beauty.
If you’ve made the right decision to stay in bed instead of attempting to sit through a college class, allow your body to recharge by taking a good nap. Find somewhere quiet (where there’s no chance of being disturbed) and give yourself generous time to rest that tired collegiate body of yours. Take advantage of your sick day and gift yourself a much-deserved moment of peace in your hectic world. Maintaining a good sleep schedule is crucial whether you’re sick or perfectly healthy. Your overall well-being shouldn’t be sacrificed for academic success and/or social life. Take note of when you naturally begin to feel your body slow down at the end of the day and at the beginning of the day when you feel the most awake.
Remember: a good nap should give your body the opportunity to rest before taking on the rest of the day feeling refreshed. Taking super long naps (2+ hours) may make you feel more fatigued than refreshed, so also make sure you’re managing your time. I can promise you that waking up from a 5-hour nap to do homework at 10 pm is going to be a challenge (more so when you’re feeling under the weather). On the opposite end, if you find you’re having trouble getting to sleep, at least let yourself zone out a little. Pro tip: as much as I love the movie, watching Sleeping Beauty may do the trick under the right circumstances. The main character, Princess Aurora, only has 15 lines in total. She spends at least a third of the movie in a peaceful sleep!
Drink Up.
Make an effort to keep up with your water intake. I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t always done the best job of staying hydrated throughout my day. Everyone knows how important it is to drink your water but for some, it can be a little more challenging to stay on top of it. Recently, I’ve begun to add fresh lemon and lime to coerce myself into drinking a full bottle of water at the beginning and end of my day. Because I’ve never entirely enjoyed drinking still water, I’ve spent endless hours scrolling through Pinterest for infused water recipes. Finding fun ways to jazz up your hydration routine may be just what you need to push you towards maintaining a healthier (and more energized) lifestyle.
When I’m not drinking water or juice, I can often be spotted with a mug, cup, or tumbler of tea. When sick, consider sticking to herbals. For upset stomachs like mine in 2018, tea with lemon or ginger may give you some much-needed relief. Another favorite of mine, warm water with lemon and honey can help defeat a scratchy throat or annoying dry cough. Make the effort to do your research and ask around to find out what miracle drinks other people depend on to get them through periods of illness. Learning new and simple ways to take care of yourself can mean a world of difference for maintaining your good health periods whenever you’re lucky enough to have them.
Live and Learn.
Just as I recommended paying attention to your sleep cycles, it’s also really helpful to pay attention to what obvious factors may lead to your being sick and then make changes accordingly. Think about it: moving away from that one student in your philosophy class that won’t stop sneezing might just give you a semester free of a cold. Continuing to eat that shrimp from your favorite restaurant in Santa Monica even after it tastes too fishy, might not be the smartest thing to do when you already have a sensitivity to seafood. Even perhaps the most well-known and beloved superhero of all time, Superman, had his Kryptonite (although for him, it was glaringly obvious from the beginning).
Remember, the only person looking out for you is you. Don’t risk your own for a moment of enjoyment. Know what to avoid in the future. In other words, consider not sitting so close to the sneezing student in your class and think about where the shrimp might be coming from the next time you see it on the menu. My favorite ways to defend my health during finals week (as lovingly nicknamed as Hell Week by many of my peers) are by avoiding eating out so much, bringing hand sanitizer with me wherever I go, and trying to stick to my sleep schedule as best as I can.
Take Care of Yourself.
This is a lot harder than it sounds. Productivity has been so heavily enforced in modern-day society, that remaining vigilant in the maintenance of your health and wellbeing tends to take a back seat. Work towards paying more attention to when your body says “enough.” If you’re feeling unwell and fear that it will conflict with your productivity, the best thing you can do for yourself is to spend the time to take care of yourself. If you’re feeling sick, forcing yourself to go to class may earn you the attendance credit at the expense of your wellbeing.
Is it truly worth the deterioration of your health? And if you are contagious, is your attending the class worth risking the health of others? If the answer is no for both questions, do yourself (and others) a favor and stay put for the day. Your body won’t be able to take on the craziness of college if it’s not healthy. Acknowledge how much it does for you. Honor your body in both sickness and health. Look out for yourself! Being sick is no fun! There’s no “good” way to spin it. All you do as a college student is make the effort to kick it to the curb with some T.L.C. and to keep up your health. You’re worth it!
Xx, Maya.