It’s that time of the year again, the semester starts, you’re getting the hang of your course load, and them BOOM! You get sick. Below are 3 tips to help you get through your illness while ensuring you don’t fall behind on coursework.
- Get organized and prioritize: When you’re sick you don’t have time to waste on tasks that are not adding value. Write down all your assignments and readings and rank them in order of importance. You may not be able to fully read everything, so consider choosing certain readings to skim.
- Pace yourself: While completing the important items on your list, make sure you leave enough time to rest in between. Sometimes this means working for 30 minutes and resting for 30 minutes. Find a pace that works for you and do not get discouraged if you cannot study for long periods of time. If you take this disciplined approach, you will get through your list and stay on the road to recovery! If you find that you cannot complete your assignments due to your illness, reach out to your professors and request extensions.
- Rest and care for yourself: The goal is to get back to full health as soon as possible.
Do not overexert yourself by trying to keep the same pace you would otherwise have if you weren’t sick- this will only prolong your sickness. Think about other commitments that are not as pertinent, such as social and extracurricular activities, and minimize these until you are back to normal. Visit the Penn Health and Wellness site to see the options for medical care and to learn more about ways to stay healthy.
No one likes being sick, but prioritizing tasks, pacing yourself, and ensuring you get back to full health are three ways to mitigate falling behind in coursework.
Staff writer: Victoria Gill
The Weingarten Blog 