Surviving your first winter in Canada

North, strong, free and freezing.

The north. It can sometimes be a winter wonderland and at other times be a series of flurries. Sometimes it’s exactly like the movies, other times it feels like you’re in hellheim. Either way, it’s unapologetically cold.

Surviving the winter is a mental game as much as it is a physical one. To truly survive, you first have to grow to appreciate winter.

Spring and summer are great, but it’s only half the year. Sure, you can hibernate the other six months and call it survival, but that’s just avoiding the problem instead of conquering it.

Learn to love the night

A dark day with a slim blue and orange horizon in the distance. — *Photo by Elliott Engelmann via Unsplash.*

Welcome to the land where the sun goes down at 4 p.m. Wake up in the dark, come home in the dark. It can be a downer unless you take a page from the night owls.

People who prefer the night find evenings relaxing. They also become far more active when the sun goes down. They realize that almost everything you can do in sunlight, you can do in darkness, and it gives off a far more cozy vibe. Even if you’re an early bird, it’s possible to find some level of enjoyment after the sun goes down. You can still go out with friends and do activities at home.

If the darkness is still too much to bear, getting a sunlight lamp can help bridge that gap.

For a lot of us, night signals the day is over, but it’s far from it. Retrain those receptors to continue your day instead of going straight to bed.

Dress warm with layers

IGNITE representatives marching outside of the Assembly of Ontario — *Picture by IGNITE*

Buying a coat is rule number one of Canadian winters. Something that isn’t spoken enough about, however, is having layers. Longjohns, boots, as many sweaters as you want and top it all off with a jacket.

If you were spending all of your time outside, then maybe a coat might do. However, a lot of us are taking public transportation, going to classes or work and making stops to hang out with friends throughout our day. The odds that a coat alone is comfortable for all these conditions are slim to none.

The weather in Canadian winters can fluctuate, believe it or not. It’s perpetually cold, always, but at one moment, there’s no snow and the wind is calm. Next, it’s you vs. Mother Nature. Freezing winds are coming at you at 60 km/h and it’s hailing. For those of you who have never experienced hail before, it can be physically painful if you’re caught outside. Trust me, having small pellets of ice hit you from the sky isn’t as fun as it sounds.

To combat this, make sure you always have a hood on your jacket or have a very thick toque.

Buying all these layers for your first winter can be pricy, especially if you’re buying quality stuff. Thrift stores across the city will be your best friend. Alternatively, you can always buy directly from others using Facebook Marketplace as well.

Have a warming routine

A woman in a long sleeve sweater sipping a mug with both hands while in bed. — *Photo by Allison Christine via Unsplash.*

After braving the cold, get warm immediately. This routine can be different for everyone, but the common ways are to shower to reset your body temperature, turn on a small heater where you plan on relaxing for the evening and top it all off by brewing some tea or coffee. Non-caffeinated works just as well if you don’t feel like staying up all night.

This routine serves a few purposes. A lot of people make the mistake of coming inside and sitting there like an ice cube slowly defrosting. First, the routine ensures you’ll warm up faster. The second purpose is to make the winter more enjoyable. It’s no fun coming home frozen, but having a smooth transition with something to look forward to is great.

Something that provides immense comfort will give you a more positive attitude toward winter as a whole. The winter season doesn’t have to be about how enjoyable the outside is, it could be how enjoyable the inside is, too.

Develop a tolerance

A person on their belly tobogganing down a hill. — *Photo by Abeer Zaki via Unsplash.*

Research shows that the more time someone spends in the cold, the more tolerance they build. Your body will start to produce more heat and try to maintain its body temperature naturally. You’ll also grow a tolerance to being uncomfortable.

Don’t be afraid of the cold. If you’re hoping to increase your tolerance, expose yourself to it as much as possible. Go for a walk, go skating or even go tobogganing. Avoiding the cold and being warm and fuzzy all the time only makes going outside that much more difficult.

There’s a reason why you see longtime Canadians out there in shorts without a care in the world. It’s not that they’re crazy, they’ve been seasoned and don’t feel as cold anymore.

Let’s flip this theory on its head. If someone said 25 degrees was too hot and they didn’t want to go outside, odds are they’re not acclimated to the temperature.

By not going outside, they’re limiting their summer enjoyment and doing themselves a disservice by not getting used to the heat. The same goes for winter. The only difference is, it’s socially acceptable to avoid the cold and embrace the heat.

*Photo by Patrice Bouchard via Unsplash.*

Break the mold. If you can stick it out in the heat, the cold can be tamed as well. Don’t just survive the winter, revel in it.

Bundle up, get comfy and savour the coldest part of the year. Happiness shouldn’t only be for the summer. Appreciate what every season has to offer.

Tells us about your winter extravaganzas or how you’re staying warm and fuzzy on our socials @shareignite.

Feature picture by IGNITE

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