9 Winter Life Hacks

Guys,

Winter is here. Ned Stark warned us and now that it has arrived, we must face the cold, cold truth.

Although the Chicago winter is tough, it doesn’t have to be entirely horrible. Below I have compiled Maph Central’s V.I.I. (Very Important Items) for the winter as well as some more general tips for the cold weather. Chicagoans, feel free to post additional advice in  the comments!

We will all become The Winter Soldier

Very Important Items:

Sarah: Scarves! “In Chicago it’s not the actual temperature that gets you, but the wind-chill. A scarf makes all the difference.”

Maren: Fleece-lined tights (or fleece-lined anything) and Glogg Winter Drink.

Kerri: Puffy Jacket. It may not look as cool as your wool peacoat, but it is time to embrace the sleeping-bag look. 

Matt: Watch the face- whether it is a balaclava or a scarf, your will want to protect your face and also up your bad-assery.

Me: SmartWool Socks.

General Tips/Winter Hacks

• Wool Insoles: A cheap and quick way to make your boots warmer is to cut out a piece of wool the shape of your insoles and then stick it in the boot. (You can find a DIY tutorials, though it is pretty self-explanatory.)

• Waterproof your shoes and boots. Buying a waterproofing spray is a great investment for the next 6 months.

• Layers. Just layer it on up. Especially when you are moving around campus, layers are the way to go. Temperatures will change as you move from classroom to library to the frigid outdoors. You should look like this kid from A Christmas Story.

• Lentil Soup. Any soup is a great choice. But my wallet and I are especially fans of lentil soup, which is warm, incredibly cheap, and it lasts for many leftovers. This is a great meal for winter, when you just want something warm and easy.

• Sun Substitutes. We usually get Vitamin D from sunlight, but this becomes harder to do in the winter. Consider taking a supplement or investing in a sunlamp. Many of my MAPH friends last year had one and would swear by it. This is a good way to keep your mood up and remember that there is light- metaphorical and literal- at the end of the tunnel.

• Another great mood boost? Hot Chocolate. Add some Nutella, some peppermint schnapps, maybe some cinnamon. Whatever you think best accompanies those mini marshmallows.

• Find a way to exercise. Some of you may brave the cold and go for a run (how? why? I may never fully understand), but don’t forget that you have access to the Ratner Gym, its pool, etc. Even going over to the Core Power or working out at home are all good ways to keep up your mood and take a break from the books.

• A great trick I discovered last winter was actually my ceiling fan. If you turn on your ceiling fan, it will push the hot air (which rises) back down to you, effectively warming up the apartment/room.

• I recommended this idea way back in July, but I think plants are the best. It can be so nice to have a bit of green in your home, to remind you that life goes on and that this color will exist again! Consider a hearty plant that will require minimal upkeep, like a fern or mint. Or, as evidenced by their presence in the lounge, aloe vera and succulents are also pretty unkillable.