Survival of the Fittest: Winters in Boston
November 7, 2020 • Written by Sonnae Peterson
Massachusetts tends to have pretty intense winters, and the long dark nights aren’t always appealing or welcoming. For residents in the area, it can be quite disorienting, so here are some things to keep in mind as the days begin to get shorter and the nights begin to get colder.
Hydration is always key. As much as you might hate it, lukewarm water is the easiest to digest, so whenever you're feeling dehydrated, don’t grab water from the fridge, head straight to the sink. Your body is already working hard to keep you warm, don’t add on to the workload by forcing anything cold down your throat.
If you really need flavor, brew some tea! Ginger and lemon is soothing on the throat if you feel sore, and turmeric tea contains healing properties. The brands Yogi, Bigelow, and Celestial Seasonings are a few of my personal favorites, and they all have a wide variety to choose from. We all know it has been especially hard to stay hydrated when wearing a mask all day, but you have to remember to keep the liquids flowing.
Soup will be your favorite food during these cold days. Naturally we will all gravitate towards eating hot meals in general, however soup will provide additional hydration, not to mention that the sodium when eating something like ramen, for example, will replenish the salts you’ve lost when burning the calories to stay warm. One caveat to keep in mind, however, is that consuming too much sodium can be harmful, so please use in moderation. Another tip to up your ramen game, add an egg! Frying the egg is always yummy, but cracking a raw egg into piping hot ramen and stirring it around will cook it as well.
Of course do not forget to eat your proteins and vegetables. Lentils and quinoa together give you all nine of your essential amino acids, and additionally, they store well, so buy in bulk to limit your grocery store runs and use as needed.
As much as we all might just want to stay hidden under all our blankets inside, remember to get outside. Go for a walk with some friends from another building that you have not seen in a while for some sun and fresh air. Stimulating conversation and fresh air will help clear your mind, especially if you’ve been stuck on an assignment. Plan to walk everyday, even if it’s a short walk, to get your blood flowing! Always remember to stay safe and maintain physical distancing guidelines when near and/or with other people.
It is no secret that the cold weather drains your phone battery faster than warmer weather. The colder it gets, the slower the longevity of the chemical reaction inside the battery which causes it to drain faster. For that reason, always have your phone on the inside pocket of your jacket, or anywhere that your body heat can reach your phone. Additionally, if your phone dies in cold weather, don’t charge it while the phone itself is still cold. If you charge the battery while it’s still cold, you could cause a chemical reaction that may damage the battery. Therefore it’s better to leave it inside for a while before you recharge it.
Wearing gloves or mittens might make you feel a little old, but they really do help. With the fingers being one of the slimmest parts of the body, they do not have a lot of heat to hold onto once the cold comes in contact with them. At the very least, it would be advised to keep a pair in your backpack for anytime that you truly do need them.
Winters in Boston tend to leave people with mixed feelings of whether they love it or hate it; but no matter which side you fall under, it won’t last forever. The snow will eventually melt, bringing spring along. There will be dark days, but every now and then look for the beauty in each day. See the winter wonderland around you, make a snow angel, and carry on with your day. And most importantly, remember to take care of yourself.
Works Cited
Dellinger, AJ. “Why Your Phone Dies in Really Cold Weather.” Mic, Mic, 25 Feb. 2020, www.mic.com/p/why-your-phone-dies-in-really-cold-weather-19299547.
