Winter can be wreak havoc on your body and psyche. Your skin is dry, your ears are cold and there is nothing sexy about long underwear. More than anything, I hate daylight savings; getting out of 4pm class to complete darkness is the worst. Having moved from Texas to New York, northern winters hit me particularly hard.  I visited Columbia as a prospective student in February, so I knew just how cold it could get up here. The one thing nobody told me just how long northeastern winters last! From November to April, I am absolutely freezing, and what was up with that blizzard on Halloween? This year I am taking a stand. Since I only have one year left of college, I’m determined to not let winter be the worst part of it. I am not going to order Indian delivery and hide under my covers all day. I have combined three years of actual winter experience with some online research to compile a winter blues action plan to get us through it.

Stay warm and dry.

This seems obvious, but maximizing your warmth and dryness actually takes some tact. You want to be warm, but you don’t want to look like a snowman or get wedgies. Layers are the key to staying warm while looking somewhat polished. Seriously, you probably couldn’t guess the number of layers I’m wearing right now. During the winter, I layer tights (usually with a flesh color at the bottom) and wear camisoles under my shirts. I also recommend a layer of cashmere or lightweight fleece under your coat. For ultimate warmth invest in good rain boots and an effective winter coat (I am a fan of Burton coats because they are stylish and sturdy). When it is really cold, I wear thick ski socks and weave two pashmina scarves (of complementary shades) together for double warmth. It is pretty annoying to take on and off layers upon layers whenever you enter or exit a building, but being warm is worth it.

Music

When you have to walk somewhere, distract yourself from the biting cold by listening to music. If you wear big stereo headphones, they can double as hipster ear muffs.

Exercise

Just because bikini season is over does not mean you should fall into a sedentary lifestyle. Staying healthy will keep you happy; the only reason your winter jeans should be a size bigger is to accommodate long underwear. Exercising regularly will keep your endorphins levels up and keep you feeling good about yourself. Wouldn’t it be magnificent to already be in good shape when spring comes around?

Indulge in winter-time treats

Winter comes with special food and activities: cider, hot chocolate, ice-skating, skiing, fireplaces Christmas markets, cuddle buddies. Getting excited about the nice features of winter can make it seem less dull, at least for the first few months.

Light

Don’t be left in the dark! Soak in as many rays as you can and work under bright lights. Lack of sunlight has been proven to be a depression trigger. Some people swear by light therapy; I personally haven’t tried it, but maybe I’ll get some brighter light bulbs this year.

Don’t Get Sick

Just because it is winter doesn’t mean you have to catch a cold. Wash your hands regularly, carry hand sanitizer, get a flu shot, take a multivitamin and maintain your healthy diet.

Don’t Get Congested

Maybe it is just me, but whenever the heater is on I wake up congested every morning. I try not to blow my nose too much because I am susceptible to winter nosebleeds. Every since I started including a Neti-Pot rinse to my morning routine, winter has felt less stuffy.

Vitamin D

If you feel like you need more vitamin D in your life, take a supplement or eat Vitamin-D rich foods. Don’t use a tanning bed!

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It’s that time of year again: cold season.

Ew.

I’ve been noticing more people sneezing, which is why sanitizer is my new BFF. Unfortunately, thanks to all the common surfaces in college – computers, desks, ice luges – no matter how hard we all try we are gonna catch a cold. Pretty much everybody does. Even if they can avoid the germy keyboards and doorknobs on campus, the change in weather usually has them sniffling before too long.

But I have the cure for what ails us all: the best chicken soup EVER. Don’t use that canned stuff; the time and effort to make this soup is totally worth it. It will fill you up and make you feel all warm and toasty inside, no matter how chilly and snowy it is outside. Read More »