This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Notre Dame chapter.
Readjusting to classes and college life after three weeks of friends, family, sleeping-in, great holiday food, Netflix marathons, no homework, and free laundry is already an annual challenge.
Adjusting to life in the equivalent of an igloo’s freezer (thanks, Northern Indiana) makes starting “spring” semester even more daunting. I, for one, wasn’t too thrilled when the weather app on my phone read zero degrees for the first day of classes.
95% of the time, you have to brave the cold to get from one class to the next on campus. So, you have to put on your coat, headgear, scarf, gloves/mittens in addition to your backpack every time you leave class, only to take it all off five minutes later.
In high school, I faced a similar situation and found it a hassle, especially when I inadvertently held up the people behind me because silly me in the front row was having trouble getting her arm into her coat sleeve. Maybe I’m making a mountain out of a molehill, but I think this is a problem worth addressing. Here are a few methods I now use to transition more quickly from the classroom to the cold (and vice versa):
1. Gloves go on last and come off first
We use our hands to put on/take off coats, hats, and our backpacks, but even when wearing gloves instead of mittens, dexterity tends to be limited. So, when donning winter apparel, wait until you’ve put on everything else before you reach for your gloves/mittens. Then, when to get to class, take off your gloves before attempting to unbutton, unzip, unsnap, un-toggle, etc. everything else. Bonus points if you take your gloves off while walking down the hall to your classroom!
2. Drape your coat inside out on your chair
This way, you can put your arms in the sleeves of your coat while still seated during the last few minutes of class, saving time and effort in putting on the biggest piece of your winter ensemble.
3. Flaunt your scarf
There are two main reasons why not to remove your scarf. First, leaving your scarf on eliminates an item on the list of things to repeatedly put on/remove during the day. Second, scarves are very versatile accessories that can complement practically any outfit! Infinity scarves are especially well suited for wearing all day.
4. Put your winter apparel somewhere easily accessible during class
In the past, I simply stuffed my hat and gloves in a random nook or cranny of my backpack, only to regret that decision fifty minutes later when I would spend too long digging through my stuff to find them again.
Choose a spot that you can easily reach. For example, when I wear earmuffs, I like to hang them from my backpack or my purse. Do whatever works for you!
None of these tips are guarantees; I still find myself slowed down by winter apparel from time to time. For the most part, though, these methods work for me, and I hope they work for you, too!