To all my fellow Rutgers students, as well as readers... Rutgers has officially become a center for disease. The weather is in its awkward period- switching from freezing to warm in just hours- and everyone's bodies are reflecting that change. Feeling creaky and gross when you wake up? Join the club. However, a few people (or actually a majority from what I have observed over the past few days) are getting the short stick- that being becoming sick. What's worse than waking up and realizing you can't breathe? How about waking up realizing you have 6 hours of dance classes requiring unblocked nasal passages and then basically suffocating during abdominal exercises because your mucus decided to hold a personal grudge against you?
Luckily I have only had a cold once so far this year, and I plan on keeping it this way. So here are some easy tips on being healthy and keeping a strong immune system:
- Take your vitamins. Sure, they are large and bulky and annoying to remember taking in the mornings; however, they will give you necessary nutrients which you may not be getting in your meals.
- Speaking of meals, eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. It is incredibly easy to go to the dining hall and choose healthy options. Also, I know most dining halls have fruit stands where you can pick up bananas and/or apples for later. I, for example, manage to snag enough bananas from the dining hall to basically have my own banana tree growing on top of my microwave.
- Wash your hands before and after eating, as well as after going to the bathroom. Do I even have to explain this??
- Two words: HAND SANITIZER. Carry some of this inexpensive life-saver and use it whenever touching things that other people touch. Don't get all "cleaning crazy" but just take care of yourself.
- Close your windows at night. I noticed this after my roommate kept getting sick. Leaving the windows open may seem like a good idea when you decide to go to sleep, but in the morning you will more than likely regret it.
Location: SinglePost