Surviving Midterms and Flu Season

By Megan O'Connell, Student at the University of Wisconsin - Platteville

Fall is finally here! It's time to break in our boots and wear those comfy sweaters. The arrival of fall weather also signals another thing: This semester is well on its way. Is it really almost time for midterms already? Yes, unfortunately, it is.

Midterms and changing weather can put a lot of stress on a girl’s body. Make sure to take precautions and take care of yourself. The last thing you need is to get sick for midterms. Going through this period myself (a million papers due, tests every week, articles to write and so much more work to be done), I had to stop and remind myself to take a deep breath because right now is not a good time to be getting sick. So, in order to stay healthy and happy for fall and those dreaded midterms, follow some of the advice listed below.

Eat well, snack well
Breakfast, lunch and dinner -- do not skip any of these meals! A balanced diet is required for a healthy body, so make sure you are eating your three meals a day. Also pack snacks to eat while you are at work or in class. Oranges are the perfect snack this time of the year because they are packed with Vitamin C. I make a batch of trail mix and pack a Ziploc bag of it every morning. I put Chex cereal, apple cinnamon cheerios, peanuts and candy corn in it to make it festive. This could also be a great late-night study snack.

Drink water
Staying hydrated is crucial to your health, so put down the sugary drinks and grab your water bottle! I carry my water bottle around everywhere and fill it at least once for every class I have. The only time I let myself drink sugary, caffeinated drinks is when I stay up late to get all my homework done.

Wash your hands
There are a lot of places on campus where you’re susceptible to lot of germs and bacteria. Wash your hands frequently and carry hand sanitizer to ward off unwanted germs.

"Take everyday preventive actions to stop the spread of germs. Cough or sneeze into your sleeve or cover your nose and mouth with a tissue. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Germs spread this way. Try to avoid close contact with sick people. While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them," said Vickie Dreessens, administrative director of the University of Wisconsin - Platteville Student Health Services.

Dreessens also suggests that the single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year. At UW - Platteville, Student Health Services has the flu shot available to students free of charge so it is possible that your school might as well. Contact your on-campus health center for more information.

Exercise
Exercising is not only good for your body, but your mind will thank you as well. Go for a jog or a long walk at the end of your day. It’s a great way to get your muscles moving and give your brain a break.

Sleep
Make sure you're allotting enough time for a good night sleep every night. Between seven and eight hours of sleep every night will do wonder for your body and mind.

"Get a lot of rest, stay out of the bars and eat healthy,” suggested Ashlee Cerjak, physical education teacher.

Call home
OK, so maybe I have the luxury of living 20 minutes away from my parents, but I know it's not like that for everyone. Dorothy was on to something when she said, "There's no place like home." The feeling you get being home or even talking to the people you love most is just so relaxing. Calling Mom might seem like a task, but it will brighten your parents' day, and I bet it will make you feel better, too.