Ah yes, it's that time of the year: winter. And I mean real winter. Even though it's been below freezing since at least November, the beginning of January is when it really hits. Let me explain.
In November, it's still relatively nice out, considering there's a few warm days mixed in there. (The sun even shines making it seem like it's warmer out than it actually is!) Plus, some of the lucky people out there with naturally tan skin (unlike me) may have a little glow left.
Then there's December, which is just a mad dash, especially for college kids. The first few days are relatively quiet, but then review sessions start and finals are looming. The pressure is real, and even though it may be cold out, there are more important things to worry about. Then after finals is a break from school and, for some, the celebration of holidays back at home with family and friends. What could be warmer? Plus, there's that whole silly belief that it's supposed to snow on Christmas morning, so the cold weather is almost bearable.
And then the next week (the week between Christmas and New Years) is spent with friends, at home catching up on Netflix, sleeping, and watching college football. So there's no real need to go outside in the cold.
Finally, there's New Years Eve and Day, which, unless you travel to NYC to watch the ball drop, is normally spent inside. And then the clock turns 12 and it's January and it hits like a rock: it's January.
Insert your favorite swear word here.
During January, there is no break from classes, or warm weather, or an event to look forward to; there's just bone-chilling wind and relentless cold and merciless snow. The closest break is at the end of February, the weather isn't going to start warming up until April or May, and the Super Bowl isn't even until the end of the month (which, let's be honest, is not all that life-altering unless your favorite team is in it).
As a born and raised Michigander, I thought I was ready for the winters. I mean, I had been through eighteen already, and they had always been bearable. But last year, my first winter as an undergrad at the University of Michigan, I realized how wrong I had been.
It's friggin' cold. And walking a few miles to class against the wind with snow pelting my face is a lot harder than walking a few feet to my warmed up car and scraping the windshield for a few minutes.
Therefore, I have some advice for anyone who has never experienced a Michigan winter as a college student, can't seem to ever warm up, or hates winter as much as I do.
First off, listen to your mom. Scarves, hates, gloves/mittens, wool socks, boots, and layers are all your best friends! You don't have to tell mom that she was right, but use them! Nobody cares about looking good in the winter, so grab a knit scarf with mismatched mittens and furry headband. Everybody walks with their heads down to shield the wind, anyways.
Second, moisturize your skin. Cold weather is awful for skin in many ways, mainly that is sucks all moisture from your skin and sends it to the sky to later fall down in little ice chips that your car gets stuck in. Unfair, I know. But the only way to combat the dry, itchy feeling is to use lotion/other moisturizes every day, on all parts of your body, including your face. If you don't start now, by March your skin could be as dry and irritable as construction paper. Ouch.
Third, make your room as warm as possible. I know many people need the room to be cold in order to sleep, but the temperature is going to drop by the morning, so the room will be freezing, your bed will feel as safe and comforting as your mom's arms, and getting up for classes will be so much harder. Sometimes it's okay to say, hey, it's freezing out and snowing so hard I can't even see out the window, I'll just skip my first class. But you shouldn't have that debate in your head every morning. Also, keep a pair of slippers and a robe/sweatshirt near your bed. It'll make getting up that much easier.
Lastly, try out a winter sport, like skiing or ice skating. Last year I tried to ski for the first time, and although it took some practice (I couldn't even walk at first) it turned out to be a great day, and I even warmed up after a few hours. Even if you're not the athletic type, winter sports are a great way to have something to look forward to in the winter months, which can keep you motivated on those chilly mornings.
