I have only spent half of a winter “up north” and there is a lot more cold weather to come, but so far I have absorbed some valuable lessons in the process. Most of the things I've learned were learned the hard way, unfortunately, and I have been through a snowstorm so I have also gained some experience living in snow for the first time. If you aren’t sure how to survive in winter either, these tips may be very helpful for you coming from someone who has no idea what they're doing but is figuring it out as they go!

1. Wear as many layers as you can find.

2. Buy a massive coat. If you are still in Florida, don’t even try to go to the stores, just shop online. If you're not sure what one looks like, here's an example.

3. Gloves are mandatory when it's below freezing. Don’t try to act like you are immune to the cold and say “I don’t really need them.” Yes, you do need them.

4. Try not to put your hands in your pockets when there are snow and ice, it makes you lose balance. I’m speaking from experience here.

5. You will slip on ice. I’m sorry but it will happen at least once. So try not to fall really hard if you can, or disguise your fall. (I definitely turned my fall into a graceful dance move like this.)

6. I have been advised to dig my heels in the snow and ice when walking, so try that.

7. Make sure your heater is working. I can’t stress this one enough.

8. Don’t be that person who drives in the snow if you don't know how. Just don’t do it. If it’s really not your place, you don’t want to endanger your life or anyone else’s.

9. When it snows, take advantage of every fun thing you can do in that weather. Go sledding, build a snowman, throw a snowball. Disclaimer: there is a risk of injury involved when performing these activities.

10. Don’t be embarrassed to document your snow adventures for future reference. There may be some key evidence showing what you can do better next time, such as not being the unfortunate person below.

11. Buy a lot of snacks so you don’t have to make the trek outside more often than you really need to. Tip: Don’t buy all unhealthy snacks because you’ll end up eating them all at once.

12. Drink a lot of warm beverages. It’ll make you at least feel like you are getting warmer, even if it means you will get super hyper on all the caffeine.

13. Try not to have a dorm or apartment with windows that let cold air leak through. It can get really cold, and you can't do much about it.

14. Try not to avoid the gym because it's too cold to get there. It can be a long and painful journey, but you don’t want to end up feeling super lazy and getting into the habit of hibernating in your bed all winter. Sadly, you aren’t a hibernating squirrel and do not have that excuse.