Currently, Americans are experiencing a huge outbreak of Norovirus (also known as the Winter Vomiting Disease). This means that many of us may be experiencing the effects of this virus now, recently, or in the near future. If you are sick at home like me, it can be tough to miss school or other activities. However, I have managed to scrape up a list of a few minor benefits* of having Norovirus.

Try New Things

When you have Norovirus, you can use the times you aren’t curled up in a ball to try new shows, books, movies, or games. This can be a great way to alleviate boredom and distract from how terrible you feel. You may even discover some new interests!

Get Work Done

Even though you can’t go to school, you can use your off time to catch up on some of the things on your “to do” list. For example, I’m writing this article while home sick with Norovirus! This might sound counter-intuitive since by missing school, you are guaranteeing yourself some make up work later. But if you dont want to be playing catch-up when you get back to school, try emailing your teachers asking for missed work ahead of time. This way, you can work on it at home.

Spend Time With Family

Chances are, if you have Norovirus, your family has it too (Norovirus is highly contagious). This means that you can spend time with them while you are all at home. Just make sure to keep a little distance– Norovirus mutates and you could re-infect them or yourself! 

Practice Positivity.

I admit, this one may be harder to accomplish while you are puking your guts out, but there are still ways to keep positive. Remember that the symptoms of Norovirus typically only last 1-3 days, so in 72 hours, you will most likely be feeling better.

In the end, life is full of ups and downs. Even in a situation like this, we can see how every cloud has a (however small) silver lining. I hope you enjoyed this article. To those who are sick right now: I hope you feel better!

*Take this advice with a grain of salt.