1. Get Vaccinated
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Several vaccinations are important for college students to have. The meningitis vaccine is one of the most important for students living in dorms. It is also one that many people do not have before heading off to college.
Other vaccines that are important for college students include tetanus (Tdap), HPV (for women), polio, MMR, Hepatitis B, varicella (chicken pox), Hepatitis A, and (when there is not a shortage) influenza.
2. Wash Your Hands
Being around so many people and so many germs make it easy to get sick. Washing your hands is the easiest and most effective way to prevent the spread of germs.
3. Carry Some Hand Sanitizer
If you think only germ-a-phobes carry instant hand sanitizer around with them, think again. When you don't have soap and water to clean your hands, hand sanitizer is the next best thing. Just think of all the germs that could be on the campus bus, the top of your Biology lab desk or anywhere else you may be on campus. The bottom line is, if you don't have soap and water, hand sanitizer is a good alternative.
4. Clean Your Room
Even though mom and dad won't be there to tell you to clean up anymore, it's still important. Leaving old food, dirty clothes and who knows what else laying all over your dorm room floor is an open invitation for bugs, visible and invisible to multiply. And I don't know about you, but I certainly don't want to see any more cockroaches or colds than I have to.
5. Get Your Exercise
Walking to class, eating right and getting regular exercise are a great way to maintain the healthiest immune system you can. Making sure your body is in good shape will help you fight off many infections. Trying not to gain the "freshman 15" isn't easy, but it will go a long way in maintaining your overall health.
6. Eat a Well-Balanced Diet
Eating healthy isn't always easy, or appetizing, in the college cafeteria. But do your best to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and your body will thank you for it. In addition to keeping pounds off, you will feel better and have more energy if you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean meats and minimize the sugar and fat. Sorry, but the diet of cereal and frozen yogurt just won't cut it. Now is the time to start making smart food choices so you don't have to battle the pounds for the rest of your life. Another added benefit? The better your diet, the stronger your immune system will be. Which means you will be less likely to get sick.
7. Get Plenty of Sleep
One thing most college students don't have a problem doing is sleeping. It is a important part of a healthy lifestyle so get as much rest as you can. But staying up all night and sleeping through your classes isn't ideal either, so get your sleep at night.
8. Drink Plenty of Water
Sodas and coffee may help you stay awake, but they will also contribute to dehydration. So you need to be sure to drink water also. Keep a water bottle with you all the time, drink throughout the day and you will probably get what you need. Eight, 8-ounce glasses a day is the minimum recommendation. But if you drink alcohol or are out in the heat a lot, you need more than that.
9. Dress Properly for the Weather
Although the cold weather will not give you a cold, dressing properly for the weather is still important. Sorry, but flip flops and tank tops are not appropriate clothing when it is 30 degrees outside. You may not get a cold from being improperly dressed, but it is still not good for your health. So make sure you are dressing appropriately for the weather.
10. Bathroom Precautions
Community bathrooms are not ideal for anyone, but they are a fact of life for many college students living in dorms. If you have to share a bathroom with anyone, make sure you are using common sense.
Don't leave your toothbrush lying around on the sink where 16 other people may have put theirs.
Make sure you wear your shower shoes. Warm, damp spaces are the perfect area for germs to grow. While you won't get too many serious illnesses through your feet (unless you have a cut or open sore), you still want to avoid conditions like athlete's foot by wearing those flip flops or shower shoes.
Carry your own soap with you to the bathroom. Those dispensers aren't always stocked very well and a quick rinse with just water doesn't really do anything.
