Hey guys! Jackson here, the marketing intern.
For some of us, now that the leaves have fallen and we’ve brought out the winter jackets, tough (read: freeeeeeezing) times are right around the corner. No longer will our utility bills be manageable or core body temperatures normal.
Last year’s winter was brutal, and this year’s Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting another dreadful season. Follow these seven commandments, and you should have no problem weathering out winter.
- Plan in advance. Check the weather the night before, plan a route to your destination that might be less busy or dangerous, and most importantly, give yourself plenty to time to get where you’re going.
- Make a car survival kit. Have a few blankets, matches, and candles in the trunk—they could keep you from turning into a human Popsicle. Think about grabbing a car charger for your phone, too; staying connected is important.
- Sign up for Ivy Tech alert system. Ivy Tech Alert allows students, faculty, and staff to get important weather and emergency messages via e-mail and/or text messages. Sign up online. Also, pay attention to e-mails from your instructors.
- Drink hot tea. The infamous “winter blues” claim countless victims each year and can cause an ugly pattern of bad moods everywhere. Thankfully, hot green tea is here to save the day. Not only will it warm you up, but according to everydayhealth.com, it is medically proven to help fight depression.
Don’t you just want to cozy up on this warm bench with your tea? Ugh. - Subscribe to Netflix. Binge watching your favorite shows for hours can help keep you occupied and entertained when the temperature makes stepping outside a serious health hazard.
- Use technology. Avoid submitting group projects and homework late by using an assortment of online tools. For example, Wiggio, Google Drive, and Drop-Box—all easy-to-use platforms for group communication—are perfect for finishing projects that require assigning due dates, deciding who is doing what, and trading files.
- Use common sense. If you don’t feel safe traveling because of road conditions, stay home and notify your instructors that you won’t be in because of the weather. They’ll understand—promise.
* * *
Green Light will be off next week for Thanksgiving, but we’ll see you back here Dec. 5!
Inside Ivy Tech 
Jackson, nice article. Personally, I think it would be a better idea to have the candles, matches and blankets in the car (not the trunk). IF there was a need for them, you might not want to venture out of the car to retrieve those items from the trunk. That is just my thought.