As per Murphy’s law, we often find ourselves feeling our worst when we really need to be at peak physical and mental fitness. If you find yourself bed ridden this session, follow my top four survival tips to get both your health and your studies back on track in no time.
1. Get treatment
When I fall ill, I like to kid myself for a few days- beginning the process with denial, I’ll eventually convince myself that it’s just a little bug, I am tough, I’ll be over it tomorrow. No matter what you’re suffering from – a stomach bug, cold, flu, or other nasty viral infection- the sooner you seek medical treatment and start a treatment plan, the sooner you’ll be on the road to recovery.
An affordable option for Bathurst students is the new Ochre Health Medical Centre which recently opened on campus; the surgery is bulk billed for students and has a drop-in clinic from 8-9am Monday to Friday. Regardless of location, if it’s difficult to get a doctor’s appointment in your area you can always call HealthDirect Australia – it’s a free 24/7 hotline, allowing you to speak with a registered nurse or after hours GP for professional medical advice and information on how to manage your condition at home.
2. Eat well and rest
When you’re feeling like death warmed up, it’s far too easy to make poor food choices and reach for convenience foods. Low on nutrients and packed full of salt, sugar and refined carbohydrates, processed foods will leave you feeling worse. Instead, try to nourish your body with fresh fruits and vegetables, high-quality proteins and plenty of water. Some foods are helpful healers when we’re sick- check out this guide for the best foods to include in your diet while you’re under the weather.
Don’t resist the urge to rest -good quality sleep will help your immune system stay strong and fight off infection. Find a quiet, cool, place to get some quality rest- preferably 8-9 hours of sleep at night, and a nap or two during the day.
3. Do what you can
Now probably isn’t the best time for constructing an intricate, analytical argument, or reading obtuse articles on conceptual concepts. Check your study schedule, and identify some work that you can do while you’re not feeling 100%. Perhaps you can read through a chapter or two of your textbook, listen to a lecture recording, or watch a YouTube video from your module work. It doesn’t matter if you don’t feel like you’re getting much accomplished- chipping away at your workload slowly will help you stay motivated, and leave you with a smaller catch-up pile when you’re fighting fit again.
4. Speak to your lecturer
If you’re able to see a GP and receive a medical certificate, you can request an extension from your lecturer for most looming assessment tasks. If you don’t have a medical certificate, speak to your lecturer anyway and keep them in the loop with what’s going on- often they might be able to give you leniency with a due date with good reason. Similarly, if you cannot attend a tute or a lecture due to illness, contact your lecturer ahead of time, and they may be able to provide you with a recording or some additional support materials to help keep you on track.
With a good treatment plan, a healthy diet, plenty of rest, a little study and communication, you can help fight off sickness while ensuring your studies don’t fall by the wayside. Hope you feel better soon!
