With below-zero temperatures and piles of snow, it’s been a rough winter. If the sludge has gotten you down, you’re certainly not alone. Still, just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you have to adopt an icy demeanor. Below, a compilation of advice on how to survive the winter –and maybe even enjoy it!
1) Enjoy some art with your friends
Northwestern has a thriving art community, and most of it takes place indoors, making it extra enticing on those chilly winter days. Gather up your friends and visit Concerts at Bienen and check out their many shows, such as The Rake’s Progress, an opera about love, madness, and dealings with the devil, or stop by the Wirtz box office and get tickets to see gender-bent production of the classic musical Guys and Dolls. Those who prefer visual art can head over to Dittmar to see Céline Browning’s exhibit “War Games” when it opens on February 20 or go to the Block Museum to see “Caravans of Gold, Fragments in Time: Art, Culture, and Exchange across Medieval Saharan Africa.” The exhibit, which includes over 250 artworks, will be heading to the Smithsonian Institute next year, but you can see it here on campus first! Getting out of the house (or dorm) will do you some good, and who doesn’t want to spend time with friends?
2) Stay Warm!
Frostbite is a serious threat, so remember to grab a hat and mittens before leaving your residential hall or apartment in sub-zero weather. But bundling up isn’t the only way to get warm. Come to the Starbucks in Norris and savor a cup of hot chocolate while working in the cozy lounge, complete with a fireplace. Additionally, the new meal-exchange plan allows students on the Open Access or Base 14 plans to exchange one meal swipe for a meal at Mod Pizza, Wildcat Deli and Patty2 in Norris, Lisa’s Café, or Fran’s.
3) Play like it’s a Snow Day
The day off of school may have technically been the result of extreme cold, not snow, but you can still mimic the snow-day experience by going out on a weekend and playing in the snow. Make some snow angels, build a snow fort or snow man, or go for a casual stroll around the lakefill. You’ll have fun, and you’ll get to take in some sunlight, enjoying the serotonin that comes along with it.
4) Shine a light on your life
You can also use white light therapy to help replace a lack of natural sunlight in your life. This fall, Henry Crown Sports Pavilion began offering free white light therapy to all students, staff, and faculty, and they will continue to provide these services through April. Going in for weekly sessions with a white light can lead to surprising improvements for students dealing with depression, seasonal affective disorder, sleep or mood disorders.
5) Get some exercise
All Northwestern students have a free membership to the facilities in both Blomquist and Henry Crown Sports Pavilion, including workout equipment, multipurpose courts, and a walking track. There are also group exercise classes held every week in Henry Crown, with offerings including pilates, bodypump, and cycle challenge. Even if it’s just popping into the Norris Game Room to play Just Dance on the Wii U, regular exercise is important not just for your physical health, but for your mental and emotional health.