Five Ways to Cope with the Season

Arkansas is so weird! One day it is sunny and cool with a gentle breeze, then it rains for five days straight and winds blow like a tornado is coming. Now it is absolutely freezing with no forecast of clouds in the sky, this all in a matter of two weeks. So with limited resources to prepare for spontaneous weather changes, how do college students adjust each day when the majority of our time goes into walking back and forth across campus?

1. Check the weather! I have had to make it a habit to check the weather online quickly when I get up in the mornings. This is so helpful. It's a lot easier to base my attire sensibly if I know how the elements are going to affect me that day. Then pack an umbrella or gloves or maybe just a light jacket, you never know these days. Also, this sort of prepares my mind in order to avoid that shocking crisp cold air or gloomy wetness as I leave the dorm.

2. Seeing as it is November, though Arkansas is clearly not consistent, I see it as a good investment to keep gloves or a warm hat with me at all times. Just throw them in your backpack just in case you end up walking to class in 30 degree weather while on the phone, hand and ear freezing against the crisp dry air.

3. Let's face it. Sharing thermostats is difficult this time of year. Your roommate may be completely opposite from you when it comes to being cold or warm-blooded. So my advice is to take advantage of a couple different useful applications. If you get too hot, crack that window on your side of the room. Or if you tend to freeze at night, keep an extra blanket on the end of your bed, just in case. Either way, there are ways around being totally uncomfortable all the time.

4. Invest in that Arkansas State Sweatshirt or Hoodie that you've been glancing at every time you walk through the bookstore. I recently had to talk myself into this one. Yes, they are expensive and it is hard to come up with enough money to spend on yourself, let alone on your loved ones around Christmas time. Granted, though, they are warm and easy to throw on or take off over average weather clothing. Plus, these are much easier to carry or pack up than a coat if it gets warm halfway through the day.

5. Think ahead. Once you've checked out the forecast for the next day, plan around it. If it is going to be pouring down rain or practically snowing, drive anywhere you can possibly get away with. Consolidate trips, so that there is as little interaction with the opposing weather as possible. Hey, this is Arkansas, we've got to be prepared for anything.