Oh my god, it’s cold.

Being cold isn’t fun. What’s worse is not knowing how to deal with it. I understand some people aren’t used to the cold. I’m not going to get on my “Colorado grown” high horse (like some choose to do) and criticize a person for complaining about something that is as unpleasant as being cold.

The thing is, I don’t like hearing people complain about the weather. It’s the weather. Nobody can change the outside conditions, and complaining about them certainly won’t do the trick. While everyone might know this, it’s really easy to forget when you can’t feel your fingers. Or when you’re late to class because getting out of your bed only to experience an immediate 30-degree temperature drop on the way to the bathroom isn’t the greatest start to the morning.

Don’t worry, this will get better. It takes a while to learn to deal with the cold. It’s not just “getting used to it.” We are human beings and we have tools and procedures. If you believe in yourself, you can read that morning weather report forecasting a high of three degrees and not grimace at the fact that you have to walk from your front door to your car.

The first step is preparation. It’s not hard to get a report of the hourly temperatures where you live. While seeing those low numbers might make you regret the fact you have to leave the house, knowing how cold it’s going to be today will make that initial booger-freezing blast of cold air just a little more bearable. Also, you’ll know how many jackets you need to wear.

It might not be a bad idea to get used to starting your car a little early and letting it warm up. Throw those defrosters on and rev your gas a couple times. Then run back in the house and finish your breakfast, throw those books in the bag and put your many jackets on. By then your car should at least be warmer than it is outside.

Let’s talk about clothes, or more importantly, layers. Layers do not mean four cotton sweatshirts that the wind will blow right through. Layers means three different types of material. First, the base layer. This is a non-cotton, tighter-fitting layer that goes right up against your skin, trapping your body heat and wicking away sweat. Base layers also make for good pajamas.

Next is an insulator layer, like a cotton sweater. This will put some thicker material between your body and the most important layer, the shell. Your shell should be wind and waterproof, blocking the elements from making you cold. Remember your hat or hood. You can lose a lot of heat through your face holes.

Where does that heat come from? Your body. How does your body make heat? It burns calories and carbohydrates. So eat more of those during the winter. It’s going to be a lot easier to stay warm when your body has a healthy supply of fats and oils to burn. Drinking lots of water will help to better transport that heat to your fingers and toes, insulated by gloves and thick socks.

The easiest way to enjoy the cold is to find something fun to do outside. Our school is conveniently located in Colorado. Even if you don’t like to ski or snowboard, once you’ve got that layering down, your favorite hikes won’t seem so daunting in the winter time. Maybe you’ll even decide to hop on your bike on those colder days.

Making it to spring won’t be so bad once you’ve figured out how to keep yourself warm and adapt to the cold. You might not be walking around in shorts in January just yet, but being okay with those frigid days isn’t as hard or unpleasant as you might think.