As college students, we're all aware of the fact that winter is approaching, and that means cold. And when I say cold I don't mean, "Oh, I should wear a light jacket," cold. I mean, "OMG I NEED FIVE SWEATERS, THREE PAIRS OF PANTS, FIVE SCARVES, BOOTS, AND A HAT," cold. How are we supposed to walk in this weather? Honestly, who knows? But here are a few tips for trying
1. Dress in layers (dress like a man)!
This may be the most important tip. Dressing in layers will help you stay warm and hopefully continue being able to feel all of your body parts. I definitely suggest several pairs of socks, leggings or tights under your pants (whether that be sweat pants or jeans), and at least more than one shirt. The other trick to mastering the weather, though, is having a plan for once you get inside a building. Try to make your lower-most layer presentable to the public in class, or else you might spend all day sweating, and it's not fun going from hot to cold all day.
2. Choose sensible footwear.
I don't think a lot of us really appreciate the quality of a good pair of boots. Regardless of whether or not there's snow, you need to be prepared for what's really to come: the ice. My freshman year, I didn't think of this, and it resulted in a lot of falls. So, be better than me and get good shoes. Not some Uggs with no traction. Get a good pair of solid boots with a plastic or rubber bottom, along with a good, sturdy sole. There's nothing worse than having your shoes get mushy and leak onto your socks.
3. Rethink your walk to class.
Whether that means driving (which can be tempting after a while) or walking through buildings (which is what I do almost every day in the winter), you need to rethink your morning walk in general. Where is the wind the worst? Try to avoid that. How can I stay the most warm? What buildings are open that I could get a quick walk through to warm up? Try to think this through before it gets too cold, so you can try to know what it's like before you have to use it.
4. Don't forget the other elements of winter, besides the cold.
Honestly, it's not the cold, it's the wind. Some guys may think it's "girly" to wear a scarf, but when it comes down to the winter, a scarf is a necessity. Go out and get yourself a good scarf. Like I mentioned earlier, try to figure out where the wind is coming from, and stay away. If you can avoid the wind at all costs, you've succeeded in walking to class. Try to also consider other forms of precipitation. Although it may usually snow, it could sleet, which is even more painful than wind, and if it's extra "warm" out, it could rain with snow on the ground, which is just a mess.
5. Plan ahead.
With all of these tips, realize that you're going to need to do some planning ahead. The most important thing you're going to have to plan is your sleep. Make sure to get up early enough to run to class through those extra buildings. Make sure you have time to get dressed in your many layers before you head to class. You may also want to bring other clothes to wear when you get to class, if you want to take off your layers, and maybe you'll need an extra bag to carry those in. All in all, planning is super important.
Winter is coming, kids. And if you're not careful, you won't be ready. Heed these tips as a warning. Don't be like me as a freshman; be super prepared for the freezing cold weather. Try to keep warm, and don't skip class!
