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I always see hilarious (maybe they’re not meant to be hilarious, but they are to me) threads on the U Mich Reddit with out-of-state students saying, “I’m freezing and having a hard time, is this as cold as it’s going to get?” and the cold they’re asking about is forty-degree weather with a bit of a wind chill. In that weather, the only outer layer I’m wearing is a sweatshirt. They haven’t felt anything yet if they think that’s bad.
As a Michigan native and a junior at the University of Michigan who has trudged through frigid walks across campus that made my throat feel like it was freezing over, typically on days that should have been snow days, I am here to prepare the blissfully ignorant and curious students who have never lived and walked through a Michigan winter. And yes, this can be for Michigan natives too. In high school, you’re inside all day or in the car driving to places, but in college, you’re walking outside to get everywhere, no matter the weather. So, college can be very different and much colder than you’re used to!
Tips on How to Not Turn Into a Popsicle
The key to not freezing to death on your way to class and immediately melting into a puddle of sweat upon entering a building is to layer. Something important to consider is that if you walk outside long enough in really cold weather, your body works hard to keep you warm. When you step indoors, your body has a hard time adjusting to the warmer temperatures because it was working so hard to keep itself warm. For me, since I usually run on the warmer side, I noticed that upon entering a building after a 10-20 minute walk in frigid weather, I start to get very warm and sweat easily.
Because of this temperature adjustment, it might be a good idea for you to layer. I usually wear a good-quality warm coat, sweater or sweatshirt, and then a t-shirt. That way, if I do feel sweaty when walking into a building, I can strip down to the t-shirt and not worry about sweating my way through class. These are just my go-tos, but everyone runs at different temperatures, so try out what feels comfortable for you.
You can wear any coat, but as it gets below thirty degrees, you’ll want a good winter jacket. It really helps when it’s especially cold to have a longer jacket that covers some of your legs. It blocks wind and insulates you much better by covering more of your body.
As for accessories, having gloves and a hat in your bag with you is always a good idea. Sometimes you think the weather looks bearable from the windows or it feels fine when you first step outside, but it can get worse, or if you step in an area with a lot of wind, it can get real cold really fast. Many gloves offer the ability to touch phone screens, which may be nice for some of the time, but there will come a point where you will need to pull out thicker gloves because four degree weather plus wind chill is a recipe for turning into an icicle. I also know that a lot of people like hand warmers! I don’t use them often, but if you have to be outside for an extended period of time, I would definitely invest in some, because frostbite is no joke.
Scarves are of course a stylish choice in the winter, but they also serve a good purpose when you’re trying to breathe in the cold. Sometimes, if it’s cold enough, breathing frigid air through your nose can hurt your throat and make it feel almost raw. It has definitely given me congestion on many occasions over the years, but wearing a scarf over my mouth has helped prevent it. An absolute game-changer for me was wearing a coat with a higher collar that zipped over my mouth with a hood to block the wind. That -15 degree real feel felt like nothing when I had that absolute lifesaver of a jacket. To top it off, if you throw on a winter hat underneath the hood and the cold won’t even be able to get near you.
Something I learned as a freshman is that you need boots. Not just cute Ugg boots, but real winter boots. I have taller boots that I wear to class when the snow starts to build up, but there were times when it was slushy and wet that I would wear my Uggs: Let’s just say my Uggs have seen better days. Please don’t wear your Air Forces either—don’t be that guy. Get yourself a good pair of boots, preferably shorter ones since they’re more manageable and fashionable, if you care about that sort of thing. Longer socks are also perfect for cold weather and prevent the whole uncomfortable sensation of your ankle sock falling off while you’re wearing boots.
The Art of Not Slipping & Dying on Ice
Unfortunately, the people who salt the sidewalks seem to take days off. Or they’re just not paying attention to what they’re doing. Either way, there is always ice on the sidewalk (especially that pesky black ice) and there is always the possibility that you will slip and fall in front of everyone during a busy passing period.
A tried and true (but NOT completely foolproof, please don’t sue me) method of not dying on ice is to walk flat-footed with short steps, kind of like a penguin. I noticed that the flat-footed method is definitely a game-changer, and with enough practice, you’ll become a pro at it (though of course there will be moments where your life flashes before your eyes).
Walking on the snow may help as well since snow doesn’t usually have a ton of ice underneath it. Keep in mind that there may be ice on top of the snow sometimes, though. Always stay vigilant of where you step on the sidewalk ahead of you and the people in walking in front of you, because if they trip, it’s possible you trip as well.
One last thing to remember is that icy roads are a huge issue! A lot of the students who go to U Mich come from out-of-state and aren’t used to the Michigan cold weather, so they are not used to icy roads when driving. Please be cautious and if you see a car coming and you’re at a crosswalk, wait until the car is completely stopped. If a car slides on ice and you’re walking in the crosswalk because you assumed they’d stop, they may hit you, so stay safe and vigilant out there!
The Little Things That Help Survival
Moisturizing is such an important thing to do, especially once it starts getting colder in the fall. I notice after just one cold day that my hands start getting sandpapery and my lips decide it’s time to bleed and crack uncomfortably. One helpful item I found at Target that I can no longer live without is the Aquaphor Hand Mask. You just leave it on your hands for ten minutes and they are so soft! One time when I bought them, the Target cashier started squealing in excitement because she had great results with them too, so it’s not just me! I also recommend that you try to put on ChapStick or lip balm before going outside because it’ll make it harder for the air to dry them out.
Along with your hats and gloves in your school bag, toss in a mini tissue pack, hand sanitizer, and a mini tube of lotion. The mini tissue pack is great because cold weather can make people super congested. Classrooms never have tissues, which is so incredibly inconvenient, so if you don’t want to sprint to the bathroom to try to beat the uncomfortable sensation of your nose dripping, pack tissues! Related to tissues, I think it’s also important to have hand sanitizer. People are gross, they don’t wash their hands, and they also often cough on every surface imaginable. To prevent you from having the terrifying stress of being sick during midterms or finals season, sanitize and wash your hands frequently! This can unfortunately make it easier for your hands dry up, which is why I also mentioned packing a tube of lotion.
Walking in the morning is absolutely miserable because that’s when it’s coldest, so if you can, please wait till the fall to take those really cool classes that are somehow only offered at 8 AM. If you live super close to the class building, go for it, but if it’s more than a twenty minute walk then trust me, that class isn’t as interesting as it looks. Michigan won’t cancel class even if the sidewalks are icy enough to be a slip-n-slide and some professors won’t cancel class even if there’s a literal blizzard outside. Note: I have had some really kind professors move classes to Zoom during especially cold days, so there are kind souls out there. If you absolutely have to walk in the cold in the early morning, maybe pack some hot chocolate or coffee to keep your hands warm!
A final note about Michigan weather: it is unpredictable! I’ve experienced all four seasons in one day, so it’s definitely something you have to prepare for by checking the weather for the whole day each morning. Even if it’s not always accurate, it’ll give you a good idea of what to expect. Another tip about checking the weather is that checking the real feel is so important. It can be thirty degrees and look super nice with the sun shining for once randomly in February, but the real feel could be -13 degrees because of the wind chill. I made that mistake once and I’ll never forget it.
Once February arrives, you’ll be wishing you lived in another state and dying for a hint of sunlight and a bit of warmth. Sometime in March, you’ll see the sun and have a remarkably beautiful day that’s fifty degrees and warm enough for you to ditch your coat. Don’t fall for that trap. You will have a beautiful day here and there in March, but it can still snow and remain cold through April. Don’t get your hopes up too early! There have been too many times where I’d almost cry with joy at the sight of the sun and feel like crying the next day when I open my blinds and see a ton of snow on the grass and bleak gray skies.
Winter can be beautiful—the first snow feeling magical with snowball fights and holiday vibes that make everything feel great—but please keep in mind that once January rolls around, that magic can fade away really quickly. Make sure to take care of yourself and do things that make you happy because a lack of sun can strongly affect your mood. It often makes people sad, less motivated, and in the worst cases, it can cause depression. A tip that helps me is instead of lingering on the bleak environment and lack of color around you, be present and embrace how beautiful winter can be as you’re walking to class. Try to look for the beauty around you, even when your feet are covered in slush.
Bundle up, be safe, and welcome to winter in Michigan.