Unfortunately, a bunch of college students living in tight quarters results in a constant cycle of being sick, recovering, and getting the next illness that comes around. The fact that some people are just learning about the importance of cleaning and basic hygiene does not really help the problem. Being a few states away from home means I can’t just jump in a car and go back to my house when I’m sick. Instead of focusing on recovery, being sick at college means picking up my own prescriptions, cooking, cleaning, and keeping up with schoolwork. Unfortunately, this is something all students can probably relate to. Regardless of whether you are in college or not, being sick often uses a lot of extra resources which means more waste. Even continuing established sustainable habits can feel impossible when dealing with the added work of recovering from sickness.
This week I have been dealing with a sinus infection that is causing a variety of symptoms affecting everything from my eyes and ears to nose and throat. In addition to specific problems, I generally feel more tired and less motivated. Simple tasks like washing dishes are exhausting and it’s a tiny bit tempting to just switch to disposable plastic utensils and paper plates for the time being. Despite the appeal of less work, I can’t justify the massive amount of unnecessary waste that would create. Luckily, I don’t have any of these items in my room and the only thing that sounds worse than washing dishes is taking a trip to the store and spending money on things I don’t need. Although I haven’t resorted to disposable paper products, I have started to slack in other ways. For example, I am relying on takeout food from my school meal plan. This means a lot of my meals are coming in single use boxes instead of the limited waste created when I cook my own meals. Additionally, I have consumed more ice pops and bottles of Gatorade in the past week than I usually would in six months. Technically, if I want to be the most low waste I can, I shouldn’t be having these products, but they are keeping me hydrated, so I’m not going to stop.
There are so many parts of being sick that use more resources but shouldn’t be messed with. For example, medication often comes in plastic bottles or blister packs which have limited recycling options. Not taking the proper medication is silly and it’s not worth risking your health to reduce a few pieces of plastic. Instead, look into recycling programs that accept hard to recycle items. Other items, like tissues, are also nearly impossible to avoid. The obvious alternative is a handkerchief that can be washed and reused. I have tried these a few times and I am not interested in using them on a regular basis. Some swaps just don’t work for people, and that is ok because I put my time and effort towards other swaps that are better for who I am.
Your best is enough and what is your full effort one week might not be possible the next, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t giving it your all. Sometimes when I write these posts I question my true audience. Am I writing for you or is it more for myself? I think that everyone can use a little boost at times and if my article can do that for you, then it was worth writing. My main point is try to give yourself the same kindness and forgiveness that you give others. The world is not going to be saved by using fewer tissues, but it might be a little bit better with more kindness. I realize how cheesy that sounds, but it’s the truth.
