Wellness Wednesday: How to Stay Healthy to Prevent a Sinking Season
As the NCAA dual-meet season continues to ramp up, and we approach midseason, we are also heading into cold and flu season. While it is important to stay on top of our training program, it is also equally important to take care of our health. The last thing anyone wants is to come down with a bad cold right before a big competition, or get taken out of practice by the flu for a couple weeks. Whether it is missing training or a swim meet, getting sick is not ideal. Luckily, there are measures you can take to minimize your chances of falling ill from the latest concoction of germs going around.
Rest
This one is common sense, but it is surprising how often rest is overlooked. Making sure you get 7-8 hours of sleep every night is a good place to start. This is sometimes a hard thing to ask of student athletes, who are buried up to their ears in classwork and training. However, building good habits like working ahead on assignments over the weekend and using down time during the day can help you get to bed on time at night. In addition to this, sometimes staying in on weekends instead of going out can help provide additional time to recuperate, and decrease chances of getting sick or avoid drawing out an illness if already sick.
Avoid People Who are Sick
This is a given: If you hang around people who are sick, there is a greater chance that you, too, will get sick. Practice social distancing, just for a little while, to steer clear of these bugs. Similarly, do your own part when you are sick and stay home to make sure you do not spread your illness. Remember the things we learned when we were young children: wash your hands, do not share food, utensils, cups or water bottles. It is the little things that make a big difference when it comes to staying healthy and being able to stay on top of your game.
Nourish Your Body
Make sure you eat enough proper foods to give your body the energy to go about your daily tasks. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Avoid sugars and caffeine, they can actually make an illness worse.
Take Time for Yourself
Taking time every day to find ways to destress can also help keep you healthy. Do not overextend yourself. Be kind to yourself and stop when your body tells you to. Do not wait until it is too late and you are already sick.
As midseason approaches, along with final exams, remember to keep your mind and body in check. You have worked hard leading up to this point conditioning your body, so why risk it now? Good luck!