As students in Boston, it’s a no brainer that we have to be able to survive the New England winter tundra. I’m from California, so when I experienced my first winter, I quickly had to learn how to not be chilled to the bone from all of Boston’s wind tunnels. For all of you trying to figure out the whole winter thing, try some of these tricks:
Drink Tea
Winter, even with all the snow and rain, can be incredibly dry. When we switch from the bitter cold outside to the buildings blasting the heat, our skin dries out easily. Who wants that? I know tea can be controversial (my friend affectionately calls it “dirt water”), but the warmth from the water is not only filling, it helps keep you hydrated. Many times I see people drinking hot coffee, but coffee is a diuretic. This means that you lose all that amazing hydration, if you know what I mean. Help your body retain water, and stay warm by drinking tea.
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Invest in some layers
Having a good winter coat is key, but unless you’re outside 100 percent of the time, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Having layers means you can mix and match between all of them. You can make a bunch of different outfits, look cute, and stay warm. I like to wear a button down under a sweater to make it even warmer, but I also wear thermals. I get hot really easily, so having the option to dress up and strip down is perfect depending on where I am.
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Lather on the moisturizer
Again, hydration, hydration, hydration. Don’t let your skin dry out; its painful and can take a while to recover from. Bundle up, go to CVS, and get some body lotion and face moisturizer that protects from UV rays. Though moisturizing your skin is necessary at all times during the year, it’s in the winter that it’s the most important. Start good practices now and get your winter glow on!
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Get up and go to the gym
This may be counterintuitive because it requires moving, so let me explain. Exercising releases endorphins, endorphins make you happy, and who doesn’t like happy people? Winter can be a depressing time. It’s cold, grey, and seemingly never ending. Everyone can use some endorphins during this trying time. Besides the fact that working out is a mood booster, you’ll also get all warm while you’re there. Marino’s sauna is up and running again! Holla! After my workout, I go in and warm up/dry off and it’s heavenly. Plus, if you go work out, you’ll be in better shape to move quickly between warm places, avoiding the cold. 10/10 would recommend.
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Use the tunnels
“What tunnels?” you may ask. Yes, Northeastern has underground tunnels between buildings so you don’t have to walk outside. There are little maps with arrows to tell you where you are. You have to move quickly though; walking in them can be confusing and there are longer distances between buildings compared to walking outside. But this is where your trips to the gym come in handy. I feel like people forget about the tunnels a lot, so take advantage of the indoor heating.
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