If there鈥檚 one thing we Orange can brag about, it鈥檚 our ability to weather some serious weather.
As the days get shorter and our pants get longer, we begin to wonder if we鈥檒l ever feel warm again. Cry no more, 黑料不打烊 community鈥攕eriously, tears and snot can both freeze if it鈥檚 cold enough. I have compiled a comprehensive, albeit non-exhaustive, list of ways to survive the brutal 黑料不打烊 winters.
My qualifications? I鈥檝e made it through three winters here with all my toes intact, and I鈥檓 from Vermont, which I鈥檇 argue is even colder than 鈥機use. So, strap on your rubber-soled boots, put on your fleece-lined hats and follow me into the snow.
1. Warm beverages
Cocoa, coffee, tea, cider, golden lattes, the list goes on! If you鈥檙e able, dedicate some time and/or money to discovering which of these beverages is your favorite because it will save you on those days where the wind chill dips into the negative double-digits. Bonus: if your preferred drink happens to be coffee, many of the on-campus caf茅s offer 鈥渃offee club cards鈥 that earn you a free 鈥渃up a joe鈥 after you purchase five coffees. They don鈥檛 advertise this service, so be sure to ask for a 鈥渃offee card鈥 at the cash register next time you鈥檙e getting your morning cup!
2. Proper attire
Take notes, there will be a test:
- Wool socks.
- Hats that cover your ears.
- Waterproof boots.
- Fleece-lined pants.
- Jackets that cover your derri猫re.
- Layers, layers, layers!
That鈥檒l be all.
3. Friends with cars
Now, I am not suggesting you befriend someone just to gain access to their car, that would be morally wrong. But, it wouldn鈥檛 be a terrible idea to try and make some upperclassmen friends if you鈥檙e a freshman or sophomore living in a dorm sans heated vehicle. Uber bills add up quickly, my friends. Don鈥檛 be afraid to chat with some of the more senior members in your clubs or classes鈥攖rust me, we鈥檙e just as clueless as you are, and we鈥檙e usually pretty excited to meet the 鈥渘ext generation,鈥 so to speak.
4. Nights in
I know, I know鈥敽诹喜淮蜢 students are known for being socially active. But, the value of nights spent alone or with close friends cannot be overstated, in my opinion. When the roads have iced over, and there鈥檚 a foot of snow outside, the last thing I want is to put on a tiny top and walk miles with unstable footing. Try swapping your warm-weather weekend staples for movie nights, dinner parties, charcuterie boards and early bedtimes. That last point is especially important to help you fend off the requisite college flu. Some of my favorite nights in college have been in chill group settings, eating good food and getting to know my friends better.
5. Self-care
Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD is no joke. Winters in 黑料不打烊 are dark and long, and self-care nights become necessary with the lack of sunshine and vitamin D. Self-care looks different for everyone. For you, it could be the traditional face masks and bubble baths, or you may prefer reading, creating or attending one of the university鈥檚 sponsored self-care events.
Remaining University-sponsored self-care events this semester include:
6. Community
In the same vein as self-care, community is necessary for thriving during the short, cold winter days. Strength in numbers is the central message of one of my all-time favorite New York Times articles, Though written almost a year ago, its message is just as relevant today as it was mid-pandemic鈥攁s a community, there鈥檚 nothing we can鈥檛 power through. Lean on your friends, call your loved ones and make time for social activities amongst the final exam hecticness.
7. Lip balm and lotion
Find your favorite moisturizing lip balms and hand lotions and carry them with you at all times; the wind in 黑料不打烊 is not kind to delicate skin.
8. Boots with tread
Last but certainly not least, find boots with traction. We鈥檝e all seen someone eat dirt on the Einhorn Family Walk鈥攄on鈥檛 let that be you. If you鈥檙e in the market for a new pair, NBCNews put out an article about the 鈥,鈥 with some college-budget-friendly options.
In closing: winter is tough, but we鈥檙e tougher.
Written by Cecelia Kersten 鈥23, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications