A
female
age
30-35,
anonymous
writes:I'm at college and need some advice. I work really hard all year to try and get the best grades that I can. At the moment I am working at grades A and B however whenever the holidays come around I always get ill. I usually stay behind at college till around 5, come home, get something to eat and then do college work till around 9 or 10pm. My mum says that it's probably because once I finally relax and have some down time my body doesn't know how to cope.Just wondered if anyone has any advice on how I can stop becoming so ill in the holidays so that I can enjoy them and still maintain my high grades.Thanks in advance. Reply to this Question
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male
reader, Lake +, writes (16 February 2012):
A healthy lifestyle must involve regular exercise and social interaction. From the sound of it, you are so into studying, you are not letting yourself unwind.
I have known many many people (I teach martial arts at a very large and demanding University) who are so focused at studying during term time, that their body and mind break down once its over. They then spend 2-4 weeks recovering.
Ideally, you need at least one day per week where you don't think about studying and just spend that one day for yourself. That's what Saturdays are for!
How often do you let yourself blow of steam during term time honestly?
A
female
reader, Candid Cally  +, writes (15 February 2012):
Avoid sitting near people who are sick.
Wash your hands with soap and water frequently and especially before eating.
Wash your hands after using the bathroom at school. Do NOT touch the handle to turn the water off with your bare hands (use your elbow or a paper towel.). Similarly, do NOT touch the handle to exit a bathroom, with bare hands. Use a paper towel. These handles often have more germs on them than the actual toilet seat you sit on!
Wash your hands after handling money and after going shopping and using a shopping cart or basket.
Finally, hand sanitizer is not a replacement for washing with soap and warm water. I can promise you that this one simple act will drastically reduce your chances of getting sick. A few years back, my roomate came home from a trip after just being infected with norovirus. His girlfriend and the other guy living in our household caught it because they didn't wash their hands after handling things he had touched. I washed my hands frequently and was the only one who didn't catch this highly contagious virus.
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A
female
reader, fi_the_tree +, writes (15 February 2012):
 Maybe try taking some more time for yourself during term time. I appreciate that you want to do well at college, but maybe spend one night a week having a break from college work and relax, have a soak in the bath or read a book/magazine. This will allow your body to wind down more often meaning it's less likely to get a shock when the holidays come around.
Also, try taking some multi-vitamins, there are plenty out there, do some research or speak to a doctor about what types of vitamins could help you. I know of one called Echinachea (not sure on the spelling) but it's supposed to help build your immune system. Just put a few drops in a glass of water and take daily. My boss swears by it!
I used to be the same, i had a high pressure job in a school, and as soon as the holidays came around, i'd fall ill. I think it's due to the adreneline in your body. Take more time to relax, give your body a chance to recover.
Good luck!
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A
female
reader, bardia +, writes (15 February 2012):
 You really can't. The problem is you've stressed yourself out and lived at one extreme level for so very long that the moment you let your guard down to relax you get nailed with bugs. It's common and yes, frustrating. Take lots of vitamins (C is very good for combating this). Take the general precautions of washing your hands often. Try to get more rest during the school terms. This is kind of what happens when people retire--they go and go and go and then they stop doing anything and they start to fall apart. Stress does keep us going to a point, but when your system has a "down" moment, it'll revolt against you! Good luck and be well!
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