Leg warmers and toques and boots, oh my! Yes, it is definitely that boring and winter-y and pre-spring season again. Traveling back in time to summer sounds heavenly. Those blissfully warm and sunny days did not require you to put on a puffy suit of armour before stepping outside into the bracing-of-teeth frigid wind, or the freezing rain pelting down from the impossibly grey sky. But regardless of what Wiarton Willy, Punxsutawney Phil or Shubenacadie Sam predicted for the next few months, there are a couple things you can do to stay warm and get through the last remaining part of winter.
Photo taken by Susan Mann (2018)
1. Check the Weather Network (or some sort of weather forecast) before you go out
Checking the weather before you go out really is a life saver! Knowing the temperature, what temperature it will feel like, when it will be getting dark this afternoon, and what exactly shall be falling from the sky today are all really great things to know before you head out with just a spring jacket because it looks sunny.
2. Bundle Up!
Bringing a hat, mittens, a coat, and boots when going out are the absolute necessities of any winter-y outdoor trip. It is much easier to wear that cute and thick wool sweater rather than trying to warm up after spending a few minutes – or longer – in the freezing cold. Hats and mittens are especially important, as the skin on your hands can appear raw from being out in the cold (particularly if you wash them a lot to avoid getting that migrating cold/flu). That cute knitted hat you bought from H&M doesn’t just look lovely, it can really help conserve heat in your head and keep your ears warm too!
3. Walk slowly and give yourself loads of time to get places
It is no secret that falling flat on your face because of tripping on a pesky-yet-invisible patch of ice is just the worst. But this can definitely be avoided by slowing down and giving yourself generous amounts of time to get anywhere during these late winter months.
4. Drink plenty of warm drinks
I cannot begin to count the number of times I have come in from minus-thirty-degree weather only to drink a nice, hot cup of tea and immediately start to feel better. Tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or any other hot beverage you can think of are perfect for those who want to warm up quickly, or need to thaw out their fingers before writing an important midterm exam.
5. Surround yourself with light and get out to beat the winter blues!
Winter can be a relatively dark time of year, with the sun sometimes setting as early as 4:30 or 5:00 p.m. This darkness, as well as consistently grey skies and weeks without sunshine, may be negatively impacting your mood or ability to concentrate. But never fear, light is here! I find that during the winter months, it is especially important to get out of the house for a while and go somewhere with lots of light, such as the mall. Seeking exposure to light, even if it is artificial, can be a wonderful way to help you shake off those pesky winter blues and return to your studying feeling refreshed and motivated.