How to Have a Cozy Winter

I had a long summer and a long autumn season, busy with school, work, and life – and did quite well. Now I think it is nice for nature to remind you of its brutality in the winter.

To help, however, I curated some helpful tips for to help us in the MHCC community stay warm and healthy during this cold season.

Winterizing your home is a great way to save on energy costs, and helps you stay warmer while you’re inside trudging away trying to meet whatever deadline you have coming up.

I compiled some easy and cheap home maintenance tips to help contain heat and keep cold air out:

· Install door sweeps on exterior doors. This is one of the most affordable ways to weatherize your home, installation only takes a few minutes, and it effectively seals drafts. How do you know you need it? Lay a sheet of paper on the door frame and close the door on it; if the piece of paper comes out easily without tearing that means you need a door sweep. In fact, for added protection I recommend you test all sides of your exterior doors and weatherstrip if they fail the test.

· Door and window weatherproofing. In addition to door sweeps, weatherstripping is another affordable and easy way to weatherize exterior doors and windows. How do you know you need new weatherstripping? Just conduct the simple test mentioned in the door sweeps section. Better still, if you can stick your fingernail into a gap between the window and window frame, you need weatherstripping! Why do we recommend it? It seals against unwanted outside drafts, moisture and dust, thus preventing heat loss and mold while improving air quality and keeping bugs out of your house.

Weatherproofing your home is important but maintaining a healthy body and mind is also paramount to surviving any harsh weather season.

Here are some tips to keep you operating at your best:

· Vitamin D supplements can help! Your body produces vitamin D when your skin is exposed to sunlight, which can be an issue during the winter when the days are shorter and it’s too cold to spend a lot of time outdoors. Taking vitamin D supplements can improve resistance against certain diseases. It can also help you fight the winter blues.

· Vitamin C is a great vitamin, too. So many people use it often, as it can help keep you healthy and happy during the cold and flu season. I do hate to burst your happy little immunity bubble, noting that vitamin C can’t prevent you from getting colds, but it can reduce their severity. That’s because vitamin C strengthens your body’s immune system.

If you are not a fan of taking supplements, you can also get the benefits from certain foods that contain helpful vitamins for the winter season. I found a few foods that keep you and your tummy warm and healthy this season.

· Start your day with oatmeal. It is a great way to remain robust throughout the day by eating a healthy slow-release breakfast such as oatmeal, which alsos start your day on a warm note. You can add all kinds of fruits to help you get proper vitamins. I like to add honey and bananas to my own breakfast.

· Increase your intake of cheese, eggs, and fish. If the previously discussed grain-and-fruit meals might not be your cup of tea, you might likely enjoy eggs, cheese, or fish. These meals pack vitamin B12, which boosts the normal functioning of the immune system. Moreover, these meals reduce fatigue and tiredness. What’s even better is that you can consume them at any time of the day.

My last tip is one that is easy to overlook when you are not constantly sweating throughout the day like in the warmer seasons. But staying hydrated is just as important whether it is 100 degrees outside or 20 degrees. Keeping a healthy daily dose of H2O will help keep your body lubricated and insulated. Drink water, eat healthily, and weatherproof your house. Stay safe out there, Saints!