A definitive guide to recovering from Freshers’ Flu

Have you got a hacking cough, sore throat, and runny nose? Then I can guarantee you are suffering from the dreaded Freshers’ Flu. As a fourth year student, I’d like to say Freshers’ Flu is avoidable but no, it’s not.

If I am being completely honest, you will most likely still be coughing well into November. However, here are some helpful tips on recovering from a self-appointed veteran.

Start the morning with a Berocca

Berocca is a bit like marmite; some people love the taste and others can’t stand it. Heads up though, the orange flavour is tough to get down on a hangover. Berocca, or my personal favourite raspberry knockoff version from Lidl, is vital. It is packed with vitamins as well as keeping you hydrated. This is a must when battling a sore throat. Add some ice cubes for the perfect drinking experience.

Cold and Flu medicine will become your best friend

It may seem obvious but cold and flu medication is very important and an absolute saviour. Every four hours take two tablets and your headache goes… sounds too good to be true. I can confirm it works like a miracle.

Another favourite cure of mine is Night Nurse. This is especially fabulous if you’re struggling to sleep with a blocked nose. It makes you very drowsy so you will sleep soundly through loud flatmates talking in the kitchen or even a pres.

A nap a day keeps the doctor away (That is the saying right?)

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If you are like me and struggle to say no to plans due to outrageous amounts of FOMO, then this step is going to be difficult. A good few nights of sleep is necessary to successfully shake Freshers’ Flu. This is probably what no one wants to hear especially if you are a first year. This is why naps will soon become your greatest strength at university. You will often hear the saying “sleep it off” and I promise this does make a BIG difference to a fast recovery. After six nights out back to back your body needs rest so please allow yourself to sleep.

Keep a pack of emergency Strepsils on you at all times

Nothing, and I mean nothing, is worse than being caught in a two hour lecture on a Thursday morning and not having a Strepsil to numb the pain from all the singing (maybe even shouting) you have done the previous nights before. A constant supply of Stepsils will make all the difference not only to you, but potentially to another struggling soul in your lecture.

Say goodbye to takeaways and hello to healthy meals

If you weren’t gifted with amazing cooking skills then this isn’t an issue. Healthy meals can be as basic as chicken fajitas with guac and salsa. When suffering from Freshers’ Flu, eating properly will help refuel your body. Unfortunately, a Big Mac is not what the doctor ordered. My favourite Freshers’ Flu lunch is Heinz tomato soup with a bit of green pesto drizzled on top, perfect when you feel ill.

If you are still suffering from Freshers’ Flu for a substantial amount of time, a trip to Cripps Healthcare Centre is most likely calling your name! Don’t worry you aren’t the first or last person to make the pilgrimage to Cripps Healthcare Centre for a bad case of the Freshers’ Flu.

Related articles recommended by this author:

• Six things you can’t live without as an incoming fresher in Notts
• Here are the best ways to beat homesickness as a Nottingham student
• The seven types of flatmates you’ll encounter in halls as a Notts fresher