So I don’t know about the rest of you, but I am not the biggest fan of the cold, scratch that I become a hermit when it becomes cold out because I HATE! the cold. So I do my absolute best to avoid it… at all costs. So here are some of the ways I learned to get around being outside longer than I have to.

Tip #1 Use the CATA bus. I am serious, its not lazy at this point its just smart thinking. Learn the routes, leave 5 minutes early, do what you have to but the buses can become your very best friend, and they are surprisingly great at driving on snow covered roads so don’t really let that inhibit you either.

Tip #2 Learn what buildings connect and where they exit to. I know this sounds weird but trust me this has shaved at least 15-20 minutes off of my time out in the cold. For example if I am on my way to South for lunch I go through Simmons, check my mail, and then proceed to walk out the door to the left of mail room, to the end of the hall, over to the stairs and walk down them which takes me to within a 2 minute walk of South. Or in the case of Hammond, you can always enter through Sackett which gets you out of the cold, usually helps you pass up two sets of stairs to get to the upper floors, and it has even shaved time off of my getting to class.

Tip #3 Store food like a squirrel stores nuts for the winter. I have too many cans of soup and granola bars in my room and why? Because when the temperature reaches 0 or below there is no way I am going to the dining halls for dinner. Sure I could order in, but trust me as a broke college student soup is just fine with me on those cold winter knights.

Tip #4 Buy the longest coat in sight. I know I look funny walking around campus in what appears to be my sleeping bag, but that coat is actually the warmest thing I have ever had the happiness to wear. When I came to Penn State I thought to myself how cold can it really get? I now own a jacket that does not come to my knees, or my shins, it is ankle long and I wear it almost every day in the winter, honestly its the best thing ever. So while you may look ridiculous (like me) when walking around campus, at least you can still feel your legs.

Tip #5 Enjoy every warm-ish day. When it comes to Penn State the winter is relentless, it pounds and pounds until you think that you just can’t take this weather anymore, but remember it will end and eventually you will get one nice day, don’t waste it! On that day walk outside as much as you can, soak in the sun, and above all let it remind you that there is an end to this cold.

So I hope you all stay warm, have enjoyed this embarrassing picture of me, and are able to shave at least a few minutes off of your commute in the cold.

So this week I shall continue with my theme of what not to do and what to do on campus, and yes once again I will be starting with some food options.

I would say one of my favorite things to do in the morning is not sleeping in, its not in last minute assignments (even though that happens anyway), its getting breakfast. I understand, a lot of people run out of the door with a granola bar or a handful of cereal, running to class with no time to spare and no other choice, but I think that taking extra time to make it to the dining commons is worth it. Every morning I wake up just 20 to 30 minutes earlier and walk over to whatever dining commons is closest or has the food that I am looking for. (Side note, definitely download Penn States Dining App, it is a great tool when you are trying to decide where to eat.) Then get in and quickly grab my food and sit down in front of one of the many televisions and catch up on local news, sometimes politics, the occasional cooking show, or even just the news feed on my phone. Those few extra minutes in the morning make all of the difference, with that extra time I am able to completely wake up for my first class, fill my empty stomach, and spend a little time catching up on the fun stuff that I usually would not have time for. And hey if you wake up to late there is always the mix at Pollock that has a Sheetz kind of ordering system for some really good breakfast sandwiches.

So after you have eaten so much food like me every day and you realize that you need to get to the gym, here are some tips on when and where to get that little work out in. First of all from the hours of 11-7 the White Building gym can get PACKED!!! I mean sure if you don’t mind waiting in a line to get in, and then to get on a piece of equipment, and then to get on something else, then that’s fine, more power to you to go and work out, but its best if you can wait. Go early in the morning before 11, wait until 8 or 9 at night if you have to, or my favorite way to stand in minimal lines and still get a workout are there classes. The White Building offers many fitness classes that go on at all times of the day. They range from things called full body workout to Zumba and Zumba inspired Power Remix classes, they are amazing, they keep you pumped and going because of all of the other people that are in the class, but at the same time you still get in a good workout. If you do decide to go to one of these though, be warned its best to get to the class 10 to 15 minutes early just to make sure you can secure yourself a spot, but I always just bring a book or even my phone so that I don’t mind the short wait to get into these fun classes.