Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
Image of things seen on a walk in Dublin, taken by writer of article/ HCDCU member
Image of things seen on a walk in Dublin, taken by writer of article/ HCDCU member
Original photo by Aoife McGeough
Life

Bracing for Winter Weather

Elena Ballhaus Santistevan
The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at DCU chapter.

The winter can get quite cold in Dublin. The combination of chilly air and icy winds can make you  want to stay in all day and do nothing but sleep. But there are a lot of ways to stay warm and cozy  in the cold and enjoy the winter, even when you are forced to step foot outside. If it is the cold weather you are especially struggling with, the onion method for clothing could be  right for you. Instead of sacrificing your style to be warm, you could layer your favourite pieces on  top of each other. Leggings or thermal clothing underneath your outfit can let you feel much more  cozy during the winter, helping you feel warm AND confident. 

Hot drinks can also go a long way in making you feel warm on the inside as they can also be  something that you are looking forward to when having to go out. Whether you like coffee, tea or  hot chocolate: These drinks can make you feel comfortable and warm wherever you are. But  being cozy does not only have to do with feeling warm. It is feeling at home and comfortable in  your environment, too. Warm comfort foods and foods you associate with good memories can  change your mood in seconds. Combined with a dinner party with friends and some festive  decorations, this can make all the difference in your mood.  

The right environment in general is also important in order for you to feel cozy. Therefore, adapting  your room and personal space to winter can play a big role in you feeling more comfortable when the weather is not the best. For a cosier atmosphere, fairy lights, especially in warm orange tones,  can help make ready for the cold season. Big pillows and warm blankets for your bed may also  make you feel more relaxed and homely after a long day in the cold as well as rugs that make  walking on the floor less cold.  

Aside from that, the right scent can be an important factor in making you feel cozy. A scent that  reminds you of home or of something that you connect to Christmas and winter can make you  feel more comfortable, such as vanilla, cinnamon or apple.  

The most important thing during the winter time to make you feel cozy is to try and stay  connected with friends and family or still doing activities and going out even if you may not feel

like it. Being cozy does not just mean being warm, but also experiencing moments that you can  think of to make you feel comfortable. Staying home is perfectly fine, but turning your place into a  dinner party or movie night with friends from time to time can make you feel even more cozy than  just being in the warmth of your home.

Hi and “Hallo”! My name is Elena Henriette Ballhaus Santistevan and I am an exchange student from Germany studying a Joint Honors Degree in English and Business in my second year. I am currently taking English literature, linguistics and culture modules and I hope to be able to implement my knowledge of these topics in my writing. I love to listen to all kinds of music wherever I go and I love to watch movies and series, too, especially if they get me in the mood for autumn at the moment. I love to see new places and travel and I am always working on improving my ability in new languages, such as French or Spanish. I would love to write on a broad range of topics, but especially ones that deal with life as a student, particularly an exchange student, and contemporary topics regarding life, culture and career. I hope that the texts I will be writing have a positive influence on somebody, whether it be because of good tips or just as a good read!