Faculty, staff share tips on getting through winter's coldest days

	Next time Old Man Winter dumps a foot of snow on you, snap on the skis and go for a trek through a winter wonderland. Photo by Tim Schoon.

Given the early February warmup we've experienced in eastern Iowa, it might seem odd timing for us to deliver advice on ways to cope with winter weather. Fifty-degree days can quickly erase the shuddering memory of those well-below-zero readings in mid-January.

But let's not kid ourselves: winter has some life left in her.

In other words, don't deny the groundhog's prediction of more winter; rather, heed the following advice from fellow University of Iowa faculty and staff members who answered our call for coping techniques during the coldest of seasons.

Get out and enjoy it!

"If you live in Iowa, you have to embrace winter. Bundle up and get out to appreciate the beauty of a new snow or a crisp, clear starlit night. After a good hike outside, I inevitably get warm and can enjoy it all the more."

"Chop wood for a warm winter fire. As my grandfather would say, 'it heats twice': once while you cut it, and again when you burn it."

"This is the best time of year to walk through the woods and timbers with the snow on the ground. You can see everything—I was out recently and I saw an unbelievable number of eagles."

"Take the time to really look at the beauty of winter, and find activities that only winter provides: sledding, drinking hot chocolate, and seeing some great movies."

"My dog and I take walks in Hickory Hill Park every day, no matter how cold it is—it’s great to be outside! Don’t let the cold trap you inside."

"Last winter I cross-country skied down Main Street in my hometown three times. I thought there would never be a better winter for skiing. This year, I have been out on the ski trails 20 times under the best conditions I have ever seen."

"When is the last time you slid down the hill on a sled, or made a snow angel, or built a snowman?"

Or stay active indoors

"I have increased my exercise routine from my usual six hours of martial arts training a week to 10 to 12 hours a week, plus one or two days of jogging a week at the Field House."

"I take part in contra dancing and English country dancing."

"I spend a lot of time working out at the gym, and I also spend a lot of time watching movies."

"I discovered the Walk at Home DVD series, which I’ve enjoyed very much. The exercises tone the upper body as well as the lower body."

[This sounds similar to my current workout routine, Sit on Couch and Watch Television at Home. Can't speak to its ability to tone the body, but the couch cushions get one heck of a workout.—ed.]

Misery loves company

"Spending time with friends warms my heart. Sharing a meal and playing board games is a great winter activity."

"Staying in, staying warm, and cuddling with the family—that's how I’ve coped with the Iowa winter. Spending quality time with the family inside has become a more desirable option than venturing out."

"I have a Westie puppy that is experiencing his first winter. When I watch him having fun pushing snow around with his nose or trying to catch snowflakes by pouncing on them, I am reminded that winter does have some good times to it."

Treat yourself

"January is the only month in the calendar that I actually loathe, and winter weather is one reason. To cope, I order and send myself a wrapped gift in mid-January—this year I got three new ties from Land’s End. When the gift arrives, I pour a glass of wine, sit in front of my gas fireplace, open my gift, and offer a toast for enduring another January."

"Got a hot pot for my office; monthly manicures help too."

"I purchased Gaiters last year and loved walking to work this year in snow that was calf- to knee-deep. My only wish was to have snow shoes as my footsteps kept being blown shut."

Eat, drink, be merry

"Making a lot of homemade soups! Everything from split pea/ham to corn/potato chowder are fabulous at this time of year. The crock pot is always going with a new soup."

"Homemade macaroni and cheese."

"Cold winter days are perfect for baking. Nothing beats fresh cookies out of the oven."

[No argument here.—ed.]

Wait it out

"I focus on the spring thaw that inevitably always arrives, and all the color that comes with it!"

"I take solace in seeing how there is a little bit more daylight at the end of the day."

"I am looking at this bitter cold as an opportunity to stay indoors and use the time to clean out clutter, complete projects, and catch up on paperwork—things I can’t always justify when it's nice outside. Warm weather will be back!"

"Just taking it day by day. I keep reminding myself that we’re one day closer to spring! Until then, I’ll keep my boots on."

Use your imagination

"Living vicariously through the Travel section of the New York Times."

"On sunny weekend days, I lay on the floor in our glassed-in solarium with my dogs and wife and look at the clouds rolling in the sky. With enough imagination, I am on the beaches of Corpus Christi, Texas, where we used to live."

"Stare at pictures of California (while piling on two pairs of pants and four sweaters to head out to class)."

Perspective

"I keep telling myself that it’s not as bad as last year!"

"I love snow and colder weather so, to me, these have been two nice winters in succession. When August comes, and we are sweltering in the withering heat, I will long for winter’s comfort."

"I have found that looking out my kitchen window, watching the birds, squirrels, turkeys, and other wild beasts foraging around the feeders, puts it all in perspective. If they can survive without any inventions of convenience, what right do I have to complain? I’m enjoying a hot cup of cocoa, my house is warm and dry, there is plenty of food in the pantry, and I have warm wool socks!"

"I grew up in Duluth. This is typical July weather for Duluth."

And last but not least...

"Your surveys are more painful than the cold."

[Brrrrrr!—ed.]

edited by Christopher Clair