Your Guide to NMU Winters: From a Warm Weather Friend

1. Invest in warm clothing

Walking to classes and being outside is a lot more enjoyable when you are not freezing. It’s most important to acquire quality winter coats and boots. Keeping your body and feet dry and warm will make going out in the cold easier. Even when inside I am often found wearing thick socks and sweatshirts to stay warm and comfortable.

2. Explore new hobbies

It is inevitable that there will be days when it is too icy to go to class or too snowy to leave your home. Finding activities that can be done inside (whether by yourself or with others) can help with the winter blues. As someone who prefers staying indoors during the colder months, I like to spend my time coloring, knitting, playing video/board games and reading.

3. Participate in activities with your friends

It is easy to become isolated in the winter when it seems too cold to leave, but continuing to interact with people is a vital part of holding off the winter blues. Whether it’s going to the PEIF, working on homework, engaging in hobbies together or staying in, it is much easier to enjoy any bad weather when you aren’t doing it alone. My friends and I enjoy going to hockey games, playing games and spending time doing different activities in the presence of each other.

4. Find ways to get outside and stay active

There are many ways to enjoy the outdoors in the winter even if you don’t enjoy the cold weather. Sunlight and staying active are some of the most important parts of curing winter depression. Marquette Mountain gives close access to downhill sports such as skiing and snowboarding, but there are also some less extreme options available. I am often found building snow-people, going downtown or ice-skating.

5. Obtain hot food and drinks

Hot chocolate, tea, coffee and warm meals can be an easy way to warm up whether you’re inside or out. When you don’t want to go down to the dining hall or to Starbucks, it is nice to have extra hot drinks and food that can be heated in the microwave. I always have extra hot chocolate and my favorite snacks stored in my room for whenever I need them.

6. Use heated blankets or stuffed animals

My feet are always cold in the winter so I always make sure there’s heat sources available when my roommate or friends don’t want to turn up the heat. I have a rice-filled stuffed animals and pillows that can be heated in the microwave and blankets that can be plugged in so I can stay warm even when the room isn’t.

7. Plan things to look forward to

Planning for the summer makes it easier to remember that even if the winter seems long, the seasons change. Plan for trips and holidays, as well as times to spend with your friends and family. It can also help to plan for the winter by making bucket lists or to do / to watch lists to keep yourself busy.