By Jessica Padykula
Toronto Expert, about.com
[post_ads_2]Winter in Toronto can be mild depending on the year, but it can also be brutal. And even if we do get a fairly manageable winter there can still be days where the temperature plummets and the wind is relentless. Either way, you’re going to want to be prepared for the worst and have some tricks up your sleeve for making the best of a long, chilly season. With that in mind, here are six tips for making it through a Toronto winter.
Layer up
Layering
is key when it comes to staying warm and comfortable throughout the
winter months. Layering means that you’re prepared for anything and you
can avoid overheating on days that start out frigid but end up getting
warmer throughout the day. Layers also make it much easier to keep the
biting wind from feeling like it’s blowing directly through you on days
you need to be outside for longer than a quick walk from the car to the
office. On really cold days, the ones where the wind chill has it
feeling like minus 35 outside, you will also want to consider leggings
under your jeans along with the requisite hat, scarf and gloves.
Buy a good quality winter jacket – with a hood
Thinking
that you can make it through the winter with your fall jacket is a
mistake. I spent many a winter thinking this very thing and always
cursed my decision to not find a more suitable coat. So do yourself a
favour and find a coat meant for cold weather, ideally with a hood that
stays up so your face is protected from the wind. Good spots to shop for
a winter coat include Winners, Patagonia, The Bay and Marshalls.
Buy boots for warmth, not style[post_ads_2]
In
the depths of winter, it’s really hard to merge fashion with function.
It’s doable, but when it all comes down to it, dressing for (waterproof)
warmth over style is the better choice, especially when it comes to
footwear. Think lined, waterproof and with treads that won’t have you
slipping all over an icy sidewalk.
Give yourself more time than you think you need
Everything
slows down in the winter thanks to snowstorm, piles of snow due to said
storms and slippery streets. So in the winter, it’s always better to
build in extra time for getting where you need to be whether you’re
walking, driving or taking the TTC, allow for more time than you think
you need so you don’t end up cursing the bus as your time to get to work
dwindles.
Find a winter activity you love (or at least don’t mind)[post_ads_2]
One of the biggest complaints about winter in Toronto
is that it’s so long. Since there’s only so much hibernating you can
do, one of the best ways to survive the winter is to find something,
anything, you enjoy doing outdoors. That way you won’t dread the winter
as much and might even come to enjoy it. Maybe it’s skating, maybe it’s skiing or snowboarding,
maybe it’s bundling up and going out in search of the city’s best hot
chocolate. Either way, finding a few things to like about winter make it
much easier to get through it.
Set a winter goal
Another
way to make the winter seem less arduous is to plan some projects or
set some goals for things you want to have accomplished by the time
spring comes around. This can be anything from household repairs and
redecorating projects, to taking up a new hobby or learning something
new (a language, a new sport, knitting, etc.) The more you have on the
go during the winter, the faster it will go by and the less frustrated
you’ll be by it.
