5 Tips to Survive the Seasonal Illness Outbreak

photo courtesy of pexels / jure siric

It’s that time of year again, folks, where the only enemy of yours (besides covid) is freshly cut grass due to a little thing called seasonal allergies.

Why is this infestation taking us out one by one? we’ll never know. The springtime may be pretty, but while we’re still recovering from the dreadful snow and cursed wind tunnels, Mother Nature decides to peg us down once again to give us seasonal sensitivity. Thanks for that, ma’am.

If you claim you don’t have seasonal allergies or sensitivity, you’re a goddamn liar. All of us are fighting for our lives during the last stretch of the semester, your god complex is not needed. But how can we fully recover from this monstrosity of an illness? 

The truth is, we never really can. While you may not be allergic to pollen or other seasonal allergies, the fluctuation of temperature and sensitivity to chemicals and drugs can definitely affect your immune system. Point blank: it sucks no matter what.

Now, what are some things to reduce the blunt force trauma of seasonal illness? Well, there are 5 ideas to try and stop the brutal ass-kicking we’ve endured.

1. Hydrate

Feeling unwell drains your body (and soul). Having a glass or bottle of water with every meal is also pretty self-explanatory (as it is a normal thing to do), but perhaps have one before you leave to go outside. A pro tip is to carry around a refillable water bottle: a plastic one is fine, but if you have an insulated bottle that keeps your water cold and fresh wherever you go, that’s your best bet. Carry it around like it’s your goddamn purpose.

2. Hot Shower

If you live in a dorm, fantastic. You don’t have to worry about how high your water bill is going to be after you try this tip. If you live in a house or apartment, I send my condolences. To clear your sinuses and have a breathable airway for a little while, take a long, hot shower: and when we say hot, we mean Chris Evans hot. You should be drowning in Satan’s piss and the mirror should be completely fogged when you’re done. While you may feel as if you’re actually burning in hell, the hot water definitely feels like heaven by clearing your sinuses and washing all of the excess pollen off of your body. Besides - who doesn’t love a nice, hot shower? 

3. Change Your Pillowcase Often

If you only have one pillowcase, don’t fret, but do consider getting 2-3 more for the spring. If you don’t decide to shower or wash your hair at the end of each day, any pollen that has been in the air is most likely lingering on you. If you get into bed with your pollen-ridden hair and clothes, it can get on your sheets and pillowcase as well, and will stealth assassinate you overnight. Perhaps the reason you wake up all congested and icky is that the pollen you encountered yesterday is all up in your business after tossing and turning and spreading it all night. If you don’t feel like showering every day or don’t have multiple pillowcases, no worries. Another tip is to flip and rotate your pillow every night so you can get a somewhat fresh night’s sleep.

4. Start Taking Allergy Medication in Advance

If you have prescribed allergy medication, awesome: this isn’t for you. You keep doing your thing; however, if you don’t have prescribed allergy medication and use over-the-counter pills, then we’d suggest taking them months in advance. You need to build up this endurance before the blunt force trauma comes to knock you out. Start taking it in February, if you must. It doesn’t have to be every day, but as long as it’s consistent enough then you should feel a little better by the time April comes. 

5. Take Days to Yourself

The effects of seasonal allergies and sensitivity are no joke, even if it’s pretty funny that everyone gets taken out by them. Despite these tips, there will be days where you are run down, drowsy, unmotivated - and you know what? - that’s okay. This happens to everyone, we all get sick and we all have our days where we just cannot lift a finger or even think about completing an assignment. Being sick from seasonal allergies may not seem like a righteous excuse to others or a professor (for that matter), but at the end of the day it’s your body and only you know how it feels. It’s acceptable to take days to yourself if you’re getting absolutely ass blasted by Mother Nature. We’ve all been there.

If you decide to listen to these tips or not, that’s your choice. Different things work for different people, and that is totally fine. We do consider that you try these if you really are fighting for your life out there because every small step towards clear sinuses is one more step to freedom.