First of all, congratulations on joining college! This will be a particularly defining period of your life. A first time away from home for many. It’s a rather rollercoaster moment, from all the highs and lows. However, thanks to orientation weeks usually within the first month of joining college which helps reduce the burdens one has to face. A majority of individuals have a habit of skipping such moments and it’s wrong. What most don’t see is that orientation gives you tips on surviving in that particular environment. It doesn’t harm to participate, it’s all for your benefit.
Orientation will cover the basics, but then it won’t be enough to cover every single detail. Some of these things you’ll have to figure out on your own. There are a couple of things it’s best you know. We have identified them and will share with you to save your health, protecting you from exposing yourself to the unknown. Check them out, they just may be what prevents you from catching that rush or flu or any other diseases.
- Cups and Partying
The freedom that comes with getting to college means that you’ll get to partying often. However, a lot of us are not careful when it comes to hygiene. A good example is drinking from other people’s cups in parties. It’s rather gross and we believe not safe for you. Yes, you’re partying with people you know but, you may not be aware of what sicknesses they may be having. Plus, it’s a bit of an effective way to spread diseases.
It’s advisable to be cautious at parties, get a clean cup, and drink from that alone. Don’t share. Another problem you can evade is the risk of getting drugged. Getting your own cup and pouring your own drink means you leave no chance of someone putting weird stuff into your drink.
- Manage Your Time Well
Yes, it’s pertinent that you hone your time management skills. It may appear as though you have the luxury of time but the reality is you don’t. Trust us when we tell you this, time in campus flies, one moment you’re a freshman and the next you are graduating. Therefore, be a master of your time, create a space for each and every activity that you enjoy doing.
The sad reality however is, most people take this for granted and they end up missing out on a lot. They get overwhelmed with school work which means no time for sports or engaging in other fun activities such parties and joining clubs. Once you create a schedule with the time allocated for all the important things including time to eat or rest or party time for your studies, focus on things such as improving on a certain skill, maybe your writing by, say, reading on essay writing tips from various resources. You also need time to generate some income to cater for some of your expenses and this way, you’ll get to do so with much ease.
- Do Your Laundry
It’s uncommon to have someone talk to you about doing your laundry during orientation. Mainly because it’s expected that growing up through kindergarten and finally high school somebody made it clear to you that doing laundry is a necessity. It’s so humiliating to not have friends because you are ever smelling thanks to dirty laundry.
We all have a tendency of getting overwhelmed with other stuff that we ignore this rather important chore. Try to find a time when doing it won’t be a hustle. Say, in the evening or afternoon or some morning hour when a lot of the other people are in class. At least doing laundry once a week is a good deal. Another advantage to doing laundry is that it actually helps with reducing clutter. Plus, you’ll make mom proud, now that you know how to do your laundry.
Importantly, remember to wash your sheets and towel while doing laundry. Don’t let them get filthy.
- Sanitize Your Stuff As Often As Possible
Sanitizing wipes and hand wash are a must have in college. A lot of things in college are communal from bathrooms to the gym to eating and study spaces. It’s, therefore, necessary to be sanitizing surfaces. Take an example of gym equipment. You share this equipment with a lot of other people. Always be sanitizing before and after using them with wipes.
Your hands are excellent germ carriers, always placing them on dirty surfaces. Therefore, be regularly cleaning them and especially before eating. Another important thing is your laptop. We use it often and it tends to get dirty. You’ll need to be wiping it regularly.
- Your Health is a Priority
For you to be able to perform effectively, you have to take good care of your health. Basically, taking the necessary steps that include eating balanced and regular meals, not going to class or partying while sick and so on.
Good health shouldn’t be taken for granted and it doesn’t come cheap. You need to care for yourself by avoiding circumstances that put you in harms away. A good example is when we’re under medication and we skip doses or take alcohol. This is harmful, especially when taking antibiotics and skip doses – it increases the chances of antibiotics resistance. Another challenge is attending classes when unwell, this risk spreading disease if it’s contagious. Also, some medicines don’t work well when taken with alcohol. We ought to avoid such scenarios!
- Avoid Sharing Personal Stuff
It saves to be stingy at times especially when it comes to personal property such as toiletries and makeup. Soaps, toothbrushes, body oils and so on should not be used by many people. These are a one-person kind of materials. Sharing them could lead to skin diseases and other eye infections.
- Clean Your Living Space Regularly
A lot of people tend to ignore cleaning their living space. It’s important to allocate some time to at least be cleaning your dormitory room or hostel. When your living conditions are clean, you get to have peace and a great thinking space.
Conclusion
College is an exciting chapter of your life and it’s vital that you maximize on this time as much as possible. One way we suggest you do so is by taking excellent care of your health. Yes, at orientation you will be told a couple of stuff but some things aren’t told. These 7 college health tips we’ve identified will help you live healthily and protect yourself from harm. After all, prevention is better than cure!
Author Bio:
Lori Wade is a freelance content writer who is interested in a wide range of spheres from education and online marketing to entrepreneurship. She is also an aspiring tutor striving to bring education to another level like we all do. If you are interested in writing, you can find her on Twitter or Google+ or find her on other social media. Read and take over Lori’s useful insights!