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21st September 2013

Fighting Freshers’ Flu

Beth Currall’s three step guide to avoiding the dreaded illness
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TLDR

We’ve all been (or, shortly after reading this, will be) there: after a week of little sleep, a lot of alcohol and even more mingling with strange, sweaty bodies in halls and clubs, Freshers’ Flu has beaten the best of us. Studies reckon over 90% succumb to the second week sniffles, and battle through the first week of lectures armed with man-sized Kleenex and dosed up with paracetamol. However, if you take the right precautions and follow our three simple steps, it is possible to beat this dreaded disease.

1. Eat Properly

The first week of university marks for the majority of us students, the first step into the adult world of living independently- and that includes cooking and buying food for ourselves. Whilst the temptation to live off take-aways and microwave meals is at times too great to resist, try to eat as many fruits and vegetables as you can, as they will ensure that your immune system is fighting fit despite the late nights and alcohol consumption. At the very least, buy some multivitamins and pop one of those every day for the next couple of weeks.

2. Don’t Stress!

Reports from the BBC indicate that half of the Freshers’ Flu symptoms are actually psychologically based, caused by the stress that comes with settling into a new environment. Therefore, it’s vital that you try to make your first week as stress-free as you can, by getting to know your surroundings, taking the time to interact with new people, and, most importantly, not radically changing yourself to impress your new ‘mates’. Once the euphoria of Freshers’ Week has worn away, you’ll soon realise who your real friends are.

3. Sleep and Exercise

Exercise is a great way to clear your head of last night’s haziness, and can also help you to meet new people along the way-killing two birds with one stone. Go for a jog around Platt Fields or join the gym, as exercise can be integrated into your new lifestyle as part of your daily routine. Also, make sure you catch up on sleep, or drink plenty of water on a night out if you haven’t had a chance to nap.

So there you have it, your (almost) fool-proof guide to beating the bug, and keeping the good times coming! Now nothing can stop you from having the best week of your life, and being able to bounce back and ace this first semester- which  is the main reason why we’re all here, of course.

 


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