Winter can be rough in Wisconsin, that’s no secret. For about half the year it’s cold, dark and snowy. Many internationals who come from warmer climates worry about getting through this time of year. But don’t worry! We are here to help. Here is a guide full of tips and tricks to make it through the colder months in Wisconsin.

Tip #1: Accept the Situation

It’s not going to be less winter just because you don’t want it to be. Half of the struggle with winter is constantly looking outside and wishing it was warmer. Try to accept that it’s just going to be cold and grey for a while, for a long while. You never know, you may find things about winter you like. Try some snow sports, make a snowman, have a snowball fight in the front yard, drink hot apple cider by the fireplace.

Forget about summer. Summer is gone.

Tip #2: Dress Appropriately

Having enough clothing is probably the most important part of staying sane over the winter. Being a little cold all the time will really get to you. There are several dimensions to doing this well.

Get a heavy-duty overcoat: go out and buy a coat that is rated for sub-zero temperatures. Look for an insulated park that is rated between -10°F(-23°C) and 0°F (-17°C). Usually, it will say somewhere on the tag what temperature the coat is meant for. A nylon exterior is a plus, as it will repel any snow or freezing rain from dampening the insulation. Most importantly, make sure the outer shell is wind-proof, as it is the biting wind that will really get you in winter.

Places you can buy good coats include: REI, Dicks, Burlington Coat Factory, Walmart, Target, and many others. If you want to save money, you can also go to a thrift store such as St. Vincent De Paul’s. If you buy second-hand though, make sure you know how cold the coat can handle.

Layers, layers, layers: underneath your overcoat, you should expect to wear a sweatshirt, a sweater and a t-shirt. Plan to wear all the layers when you’re outside and slowly shed them as you get warmer inside. Buy some long underwear (also called ‘thermal underwear’ or ‘underarmor’) and wear it under your pants. Get some warm wool socks. You can wear them over your regular socks. Be sure to tuck your socks into your thermal underwear and your sweatshirt into your pants. This prevents the wind from getting up into your outfit.

Buy some Boots: if there is more than 2 inches of snow, forget about your regular sneakers. You need to buy a good pair of waterproof hiking boots. High ankles are a plus. Keen, Columbia, Woolrich and Sorel are a few good brand names. When boot shopping, be sure to wear your winter socks and preferred insoles when trying on different models. Then tramp around the store as much as you need to get a good feel for them. Waterproof material means a bulkier boot, so make sure there is enough room in the toes. You may need a slightly larger boot size than your normal shoe size. Avoid getting a boot that’s too lose though, or you’ll slip around inside them.

Cover your head: at the very least, buy a wool cap to wear under your hood and a scarf to cover your face. When it gets really cold, consider buying a balaclava to cover your entire face.

Gloves: when you’re outside, you’ll need something to keep your hands warm. You can layer gloves if you need to. Fingered gloves make it easier to do things while wearing them, but mittens are warmer. There are gloves which allow you to use your smartphone while wearing them.

Hand-warmers: these are an amazing invention that are under-utilized in my opinion. Simply open up the packaging and these packets stay warm for hours. Put them in your pocket or in the toes of your boots. Just don’t put them directly against your skin! They can get too hot.

Tip #3: Stay Healthy

Boost your Immune System: people tend to get sick in the winter, and your immune system will probably be weaker as well. Avoid spending the season in bed by boosting your immune system. Regular exercise will help with that. Also, there are a number of foods you can eat which boost your immune system, including: apples, citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, limes), garlic, turmeric (the spice), green tea, and raw honey.

Maintain your Sleep Routine: it is darker in winter, and that can really throw off people’s sleep. Make sure you are going to bed and getting up at around the same times as you would during the summer. One thing that can REALLY help with this is a UV lamp. These lamps mimic sunlight and can help you in two ways. First, when you wake up and it’s dark out, turn the lamp on right away and sit under it while you eat breakfast. This tells your body it’s morning even though the sun isn’t up yet. Second, often people get down in the winter due to a lack of Vitamin D, which we get from sunlight. UV lamps will help your body replenish Vitamin D even if you’re not seeing the sun.

Tip #4: Stay Active

Just because it’s cold outside does not mean you should just stay indoors and sleep all the time! You might want to but that will lead to the winter blues faster than anything. There are a ton of winter sports you can get into (just dress appropriately!). Otherwise, consider getting an indoor gym membership and go at least 3 times a week. I, personally, really enjoy hot yoga over the winter. It doesn’t need to be an intense workout. You just need to keep the blood moving.

Tip #5: Drive Safely

There are a lot more car accidents over winter, and this is mostly because people aren’t cautious enough with driving in cold conditions. Here are a few tips to winter driving.

Drive Super Smoothly: The key to safe driving in snow is being smooth with the steering wheel, accelerator, and brakes. Sudden movements with the controls can easily unstick the tires and cause you to skid, so every turn of the wheel, push of the brakes, and movement of the throttle must be deliberate, gentle, and gradual. Pretend there’s a cup of scalding coffee in your lap and drive so as not to spill it.

Glide Through Turns: often when we come to a turn we slow down a lot and then accelerate throughout the turn. During the winter, this will cause the tires to spin and you’ll skid out. Approach turns slowly, but try to maintain that momentum throughout the entire turn. Do not let up or press down on your gas. This will make more sense once you try it.

Look Farther Ahead: The slipperier it gets, the farther down the road you should look—and think. Anticipate what you’ll need to do next. It’s going to take you a lot longer to stop, so stay farther back from the car in front of you and start stopping sooner when you come to a stoplight. This is especially important if you’re on ice or coming down a hill.

Heed the Flashing Lights: there’s a light on your dashboard which will give you an idea of how much traction you have on the road. It’s an outline of a car with squiggly lines behind it. If you’re accelerating in a straight line and this light is blinking, this is the stability-control system warning you that the wheels that drive the car are slipping. Heed it. And ease up on the accelerator so the tires regain their grip.

Get Winter Tires: some tires just aren’t meant for winter driving conditions. Look into getting tires rated for snowy roads. Many tires, however, are considered ‘all season’ tires and will work in winter. So be careful not to let an auto-mechanic up-sell you unnecessarily. 

Assume Everyone Else Has No Idea What They’re Doing: the biggest risk on the road isn’t necessarily you skidding out, but other people skidding into you. Keep extra vigilant when watching other drivers. Try to predict their mistakes and avoid getting into an accident. For example, say you’re at a stoplight and it just turned green for you. But, you look over and a car coming the other direction seems to be going too fast to successfully stop at their red light. Don’t assume they’ll stop. Wait for them to stop or at least slow down. Once you’re in the intersection and they skid through the red light, an accident is hard to avoid.

Be Prepared to Be Stranded: this one is actually super important but many Wisconsinites ignore it. The cold might stop your car from starting, you may get stuck in a snow drift, you may skid off the road and need a tow. Anything can happen.

In case you get stuck, keep a snow shovel in your car along with sand or kitty litter to place under your wheels for traction. A side benefit of this is that heavy bag of grit will help keep your back wheels on the road if you leave it in your trunk. 

In case your car dies, keep a warm blanket and some emergency supplies in your car. Good emergency supplies include: a first aid kit, hand-warmers, dry food, water, and a flashlight. Be ready to camp out in your car overnight if you need to. It’s also a good idea to have road flares in case you need to signal for help.

Lastly, jumper cables are a necessity!