Hey Bloggers,

Are any of you starting to get sick now that the cold weather has knocked our doors? Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but lately it has been freezing out .  I keep finding myself coughing, sniffling, and trying to stay indoors by any means possible. So I've come up with some ideas that, hopefully, will help us all stay warm and, most importantly, stay healthy during these cold winter months.  It’s never fun getting sick, but when you have to keep on top of all of your academics, your part-time job and all of the extra stuff that you do with your time, it can become very difficult to stay on track and not get behind on assignments. 

First things first, you've got to wash your hands! I know this sounds ridiculous--we've been hearing it since we were toddlers--but it's a serious thing that most people think is a waste of valuable time. In all honesty, though, good hand washing  takes about as much time do as it takes to sing the ABCs once through.  Not sure when you are supposed to wash your hands?  Think back to when you were a kid and remember what adults alwasys told you.   Use warm water and soap to kill any germs left on your hands. Oh yeah, try and carry around travel size hand sanitizer, too, for when you're on the go.  And carry hand lotion - while we might want to keep our hands clean to help prevent illnesses, we also want to prevent our hands from getting too dry because of the cold!

A fun way to stay warm is by making hot cocoa and getting creative! My favorite way to do this at college is by making warm rice socks. Now, I know this sounds crazy but it’s really fun and it actually works. All you have to do is find an old sock or cloth bag, get some dry rice, and even some lavender if you want it to smell good. You can decorate your sock if you'd like, that's what I always do, but make sure you're using things that don't melt. Then, you put your rice and lavender in the sock, make sure it’s all secure, and microwave it for a minute or so to warm it up. Next thing you know you'll have a cute little rice sock ready to warm any part of your body up that needs it.  (And as a side note, this might be a fun activity to do as a group with people in your hallway or dorm!)

Another lesson we've been learning since before we can remember is to dress properly for the weather. I know, I know, another tip that sounds completely ridiculous because it is so common sense; but let me tell you, friends, that common sense is not as common as we might think. I know plenty of smart people, including myself, who don't always dress properly for the cold weather. (Shorts and flip-flops in the middle of winter are just an invitation for trouble!)  The truth is, though, that all we have to do is open a newspaper, turn on a television, or go outside for a few seconds to know how warm or cold it is; it’s that simple. Then we will know if we should be wearing three layers under our coats or just one; if we should be wearing a facemask, gloves, and a hat or just a coat; if we need to wear snow boots, rain boots, or just Uggs to keep our feet dry. 

Remember: All it takes is a few minutes of our time and we can help keep ourselves warm and healthy during the coldest of days. By washing our hands, finding creative ways to stay warm, or just dressing properly for the cold, winter weather, we can make a difference in our own lives--we can actually enjoy the winter instead of being miserable.  And keep in mind, the healthier we are, the more our brains can absorb all of the stuff we are learning in our classes.

Staying warm until the next time, 
Kendra