So, you’ve somehow managed to find yourself curled up in your blankets, coughing your lungs out and sneezing uncontrollably. No matter how you caught it, the flu is the worst thing to suffer through, especially when there’s school to worry about. No one wants to return to five or six classes worth of missed work; all the worksheets, homework assignments, quizzes, and tests to make up. But what can you do to avoid this situation?

Obviously, the first thing you should do is to not get to get sick in the first place. Wash your hands often; and not just a quick rinse with some water. Scrub vigorously with soap for 20 seconds or more, and remember the skin between your fingers and underneath your nails. Try not to touch your face, especially if you’ve been outside of the house. Keep the things in your house clean with wipes, so as to not spread germs around. If you come into contact with people who are sick, try to stay as far away from them as you can, even if you come off as a bit rude. Get the latest flu shots to prepare your immune system for the challenges that flu season will bring. Lastly, take care of your body during this time of the year, as the cold weather and the stress of finals can wreak havoc on your health. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water, and get a full night’s rest whenever possible.

But what if you’re already sick? First determine whether you’re suffering a common cold, or a strain of influenza. If it is indeed the flu, you can take antibiotics to clear up your symptoms instead of waiting it out. While you wait to ride out the illness, be sure to keep yourself as hydrated as possible, and take it easy until you recover. Warm drinks such as teas and chicken noodle soup soothe scratchy throats and contain natural bronchodilating compounds, and water will increase mucus secretions to flush out bacterial and viral invaders. If you happen to be uncomfortably congested, inhaling steam is helpful to loosen up your blocked nasal passages. When coughing or sneezing, always remember to cover up with a tissue or your sleeve; as many as 19,500 flu viruses can be transmitted in every cough or sneeze. Don’t show up to school if you’re feeling under the weather, because you risk spreading your infection to others, causing an epidemic.

Once you’re on the mend, it’s time to face the reality of catching up in your classes. Always keep the contact information of someone in each of your classes, be it your teacher, or a friend, so that you can receive instructions on what you missed while you were gone. Retrieve this information as soon as you can, so that you can get to work when you’re starting to feel better at home. Always communicate with your teachers and work out a schedule that’s right for the both of you, to make up any quizzes, labs, or tests you may need to take. Once you get your homework, prioritize which assignments are the most time-consuming or important, and finish them first. Always ask for any notes you may need to take, so that you understand what your homework is asking of you. And, most importantly, don’t procrastinate on finishing your work. Each day that you waste is another pile of assignments, which will eventually snowball into uncontrollable proportions.

Even if your situation feels bleak, and you feel like you’re not going to make it out alive during and after your absence, remember that you’ll survive the strenuous flu season and your immense workload if you put the effort into recovering. Good luck, and stay healthy!

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