When you are a kid, getting sick is not too big of a deal.  You get to miss a day of school, your parents take care of you, and you get sympathy from your friends.

At college, being sick is a totally different story.

You have to take care of yourself, and missing a class means that you are behind schedule, and have to procure the notes from someone who did go to class.

I thought I had it all figured out until this past weekend, when I awoke Sunday with severe pain in my throat.  I slept very little, and I had to study for a midterm and finish a paper while seriously under the weather.  It was not an easy experience for me, and I learned some important lessons:

Get as much rest as you can

When you are sick, sleep is your best friend.  Your primary focus should be restoring your health, so don’t waste energy on parties or sports.

If you have to study or write a paper, give yourself breaks and don’t stay up working all night.

We don’t do our best work when we are sick, and that is magnified when we are sick and tired.

If it’s bad, see the doctor

Hitting up WebMD is not the same as going to a doctor; don’t try to diagnose yourself.  Most schools have a student health center on campus; please do not be afraid to visit it.

Plus, if you need a delay on a test/paper because of your illness, most professors require copy of a doctor’s note.  Also, if you need an extension on a paper or test, let your professors know as early as possible, because they may not grant it if you ask them on the day of a test.

And if it is a really serious illness, seeing a doctor is the fastest way to recovering.

Take care of yourself

Just as important as treating your sickness is preventing it in the first place.  Try to get a decent amount of sleep each night, and wash your hands regularly.

One last piece of personal advice: do not drink alcohol when you are sick.  Your body is strained enough when it is fighting an illness; don’t burden it even more by getting drunk.

If anyone else has personal stories of being sick at college, or advice on the topic, please comment below.