How to Survive a Michigan Winter
Tips on how to beat the winter blues
—By Sara Sherazi, Zain Arfi, and Rose Segan
Michigan winters are known to be cold and have below-zero temperatures. It can be difficult to stay motivated and energetic when Michigan winter consists of gray skies, fewer hours of sunlight, and shorter days. Usually, people start feeling down after the holiday season and look forward to longer days and warmer temperatures in summer. However, winter doesn’t have to be a miserable and dreadful season if you know how to make the most of it and turn every snowy, cold day into a Michigan winter experience.
If you’re feeling the winter blues this year, here is what you can do to survive Michigan winters in and near Ann Arbor coming from three University of Michigan seniors.
Buy a Sunset lamp: The main reason why winter can have an impact on your mood is that it can disrupt your circadian rhythm (physical, mental, and behavioral changes that follow a 24-hour cycle) due to the lack of sunlight exposure. As a result, light therapy can positively impact your body’s melatonin production, which is a hormone that helps regulate circadian rhythm and sleep cycles. With less sunlight and shorter days in winter, your sleep cycle can be disrupted and make you feel less energized and motivated during the day. The benefits of a sunset lamp can help people that are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) which is a type of depression related to seasonal changes. The light you receive from sunset lamps may improve sleep cycles, reduce stress, increase energy, improve mental health, etc. You can buy sunset lamps anywhere from $5 to $30, depending on where you purchase them from. You can buy a sunset lamp from Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, or even Amazon! The best part about sunlight lamps is that they are quite affordable and can do wonders for the winter blues without breaking the bank!
Visit local coffee shops: If you’re a coffee-lover, then visiting a local coffee shop in Ann Arbor will be a great way to stay warm this winter. There are plenty of coffee shops in downtown Ann Arbor which also have cool study spaces so you can study solo or with friends. The great part about Ann Arbor is that there is a wide selection of coffee shops in town, especially with more shops opening soon. Some popular coffee shops are Dozer Coffee, RoosRoast Liberty, and Hyperion Coffee. They have a wide selection of coffee and range from $3-$6. If you’re feeling down and would like a quick pick-me-up, you can never go wrong with coffee, hot chocolate, or latte to keep you warm in Ann Arbor during the cold winter months!
Go sledding with friends: One of the biggest issues with Michigan winters is wanting to stay inside the whole time. Sledding around Ann Arbor is a great way to get out of an apartment or dorm and turn the snow from an obstacle into a thrilling experience. Burns Park, located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, has a few speedy slopes that can be thrilling on the way back down. There is also a gorgeous view of the University of Michigan’s football stadium and the city of Ann Arbor. Another place where you can go sledding is in Leslie Park, which is also located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The high sledding slopes on the north side of Leslie Park have a great view of the golf course. Both parks have free admission, so all there is to do is bring some sleds, a few friends, and let the fun begin!
Get out of Ann Arbor and experience a Michigan Christmas: For many students, by the time winter comes around, it seems that you have explored almost all Ann Arbor has to offer. For these students, winter is the perfect time to venture outside of the confines of campus and experience life outside of Ann Arbor. Michigan is home to some of the best Christmas attractions in cities ranging from 30 minutes to an hour and a half away. For a closer option, check out Rochester Michigan’s “Big, Bright Light Show” and see one of Michigan’s most iconic downtown streets decked out with Christmas lights of every color. This is a great time to be with family and friends and to sit back and let the lights brighten your holiday spirit! For students who are not afraid to brave the elements, downtown Detriot’s Campus Martius is home to one of the prettiest outdoor ice skating rinks with shopping and restaurants surrounding it. It is a beautiful outdoor space with half a million twinkling lights surrounded by the breathtaking view of Detroit’s skyline.
Check out Frankenmuth: If you find yourself with an entire Saturday with nothing to do, missing the tailgates and football games from the fall, it may be time for a road trip. For students who aren’t afraid of a longer drive, a trek to Frankenmuth, Michigan will heal all of the cold weather woes Michigan can bring. Frankenmuth is a Bavarian-themed town located about an hour and a half north of Ann Arbor. During the first semester, students should be sure to check out Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland, which boasts the title of the world’s largest Christmas store. During the second semester, students can attend Frankenmuth’s Zehnder’s Snowfest, a festival in which world-class ice and snow sculptures fill the streets. Regardless of whether it is a festival season or not, Frankenmuth has a wide array of restaurants, shops, and small-town appeal to keep visitors of all interests engaged for a quick day trip.
Although the winters in Michigan can be dreadful, you can still enjoy and make the most of it. The most important part of staying in high spirits this winter is getting out of your house and learning to enjoy the harsh conditions of Michigan winters. While the snow and sub-zero temperatures may seem overwhelming at times, for many students it is important to find the right activities to celebrate this unique weather. From coffee shops and sunset lamps to sledding and exploring outside of Ann Arbor, we hope this survival guide will help you stay warm and cozy this winter by enjoying the winter activities in Michigan!
Feature photo credit: Hannah Krueger on Unsplash