As a student from a tropical country where it’s sunny and 90 degrees Fahrenheit all year long, living and surviving in winter is not easy at all. I know that the struggle is real! One thing to make winter more bearable is to be well prepared. Here are a few tips and tricks to stay warm in the cold Michigan winter!
Dress in layers
Thinking about staying outside for outdoor winter activities? (or just having to walk through a snowstorm after a late night class?) A single-layer winter coat might not be enough to keep you warm. Putting on clothes in layers will make sure that you’re warm and if it’s too warm, you can always take it out. Here are the three common layers that could be worn on a winter day.
Base layer: This is usually a lightweight, tight and fit cloth. Its job is to absorb the sweat from your skin which will keep your skin dry and keep your body warm.
Middle layer: This layer works as insulation to retain your body heat.
Outer layer: This layer protects you from wind and rain. Most of the outer layers are also made to be waterproof and breathable.
Cover them up! Protect your head, neck, and feet
Beanies, scarves, and warm socks are must-have items to survive through winter. These essential items will really keep you warm and a lot of time you can dress up and play around with these accessories as well. For the socks, I would recommend finding socks made of “Merino wool” which is comfortable and will keep your feet warm and dry.
Beanie, Scarf, and Merino wool socks
Good shoes matter
I’ve never thought about the importance of wearing good quality shoes before I came to the US but this is really crucial. A lot of the time you’ll be walking around on a slippery road and good winter shoes will definitely save you from falling! If you are going to buy a pair of winter boots, some of the things that you can consider are the comfort, waterproofing, height, and grip. Make sure that your feet stay dry in the snow because dry feet means warm feet.
Keep yourself hydrated
I was shocked when I first experienced winter and the back of my hands are cracking so bad. So, I would strongly suggest investing in a high quality lotion and keep applying it throughout the day. Also, drinking a lot of water helps you from getting dry skin too.
Another thing that I’ve never used before coming to the US is a humidifier! It is a device that adds moisture to your room, in order to prevent dry skin, dry throat, nose irritation, sinus congestion, and many more.
Once you are well prepared, you will find that winter is one of the best seasons you could ask for. Whether it’ll be building a snowman, making a snow angel, going out to a ski resort, or just sip your hot chocolate in your living room on a snow day. These are the things that make winter so wonderful!
Written by Arachaporn (Eye) Phucharoen
Summer Orientation Peer Advisor
Graduate Student
Thailand
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