Last week, the swine flu finally got to me. At least that’s what I think it was. It might have been the seasonal flu or a really, really bad cold. In any case, whatever it was knocked me out of classes for a couple days.

While I rested in my room in my scholarship hall, I grew restless. Though I definitely felt ill, a Tylenol salvo helped me feel well enough that lying in my bed all day was not an option. I found that passing the time waiting to get well can be hard — I can only sleep so much. So in an attempt to help avoid this fate, I’ve compiled the following list from things I’ve done in the past while sick:

1. Shower. Hopefully this is something you do anyway, but I find a hot shower can at least temporarily soothe the body aches that come with the flu.
2. Drink 7UP. When I first began to feel ill, I bought a 12-pack of the lemon-lime soda to drink if my stomach became unsettled. Although my tummy felt fine, yours might not, and it’s good to be prepared. This got to me to wondering, though, does anyone actually drink 7UP? I mean when they’re not actually sick. If you exist, I want to meet you.
3. Read the entire newspaper. Every morning I read The University Daily Kansan and The New York Times. Unfortunately, I usually don’t have time to finish The Times. Being sick changes that.

It also provides a sense of accomplishment when there’s not really a whole lot you can accomplish. You can hold your throbbing head a little higher knowing you made it from the front page to the last page of “Dining.”

1. Watch daytime TV. You can learn a lot. Did you know “The Today Show” is four hours long? I can eat lunch while I’m watching. Also, did you know there used to be a show devoted to Tom Selleck’s mustache? It was called “Magnum, P.I.”
2. Watch a movie. If you feel as if you might doze off at any moment, just pop in one you own; then you won’t feel guilty. Otherwise, the less mental effort required, the better.
3. Spend copious amounts of time looking up your symptoms online. It’s the Dr. House effect. Learning about symptoms you don’t have can make you feel better.
4. Work on homework. Actually, never mind.
5. Facebook. Sickness cramps the social life. Facebook provides the necessary link to the outside world to keep you sane. It may be tempting to try to use Facebook chat to an obnoxious degree — resist this temptation.
6. Wear pajamas all day. Other than Thanksgiving or Christmas, when do you get to do this?
7. Read a non-school-related book — it may be your only chance.

Having the flu isn’t fun, but that doesn’t mean it has to be a multi-day slog without meaning.

Hopefully, one of the things on this list can help you forget you have the flu, at least for a few minutes.