Lately in Athens, the temperatures are dropping rather quickly, leaving us with what feels like no time to enjoy the fall weather. It seems we went straight from 70 degrees to 30 degrees over the past couple of weeks. This is bad news for those who dread winter, but it at least gives you an opportunity to bundle up by wearing your favorite sweatshirts.
Knowing Ohio, the weather will probably be drastically different next week, but for now, it’s looking like we are transitioning to winter coats and thick socks. With that being said, sometimes it’s hard to dress for chillier days when it will be freezing in the morning, and then somehow by the afternoon, it’s warm enough to wear a t-shirt and shorts.
Some challenges come along with the colder weather that make living on campus without a car a little more unenjoyable. To start off, a trip to the gym has turned into a chance to get your fingers numb on your hike there; it takes more strength than ever to get yourself to go on these colder days. Wearing layers over your gym clothes causes more inconvenience, but at least the crowds in the gym will likely be smaller.
The temptation to skip class is at an all-time high because walking to class requires packing on the layers and sometimes even a hat to keep your ears nice and toasty. It’s tough to get yourself out of bed and prepare yourself for the walks that are seemingly never-ending, but necessary to keep yourself from slipping into a winter slump.
Going out has started to become a pain for students who enjoy spending time at the bars on the weekends. It’s hard to balance a cute outfit while still trying to keep warm for those long walks to and from Court Street. It makes it even harder when the bars are always hot inside, regardless of outside temperatures. Some students are willing to sacrifice their ability to be comfortable in exchange for wearing a cute top and mini skirt, but the colder months make going out a struggle regardless.
During times like these, having a car on campus would be really helpful. Going everywhere on foot really isn’t ideal, and living in the dorms can make it easy to stay in your room all day. It might feel like there’s nothing to do during these months with no car, but getting out and finding new hobbies can help keep you busy. Even though it’s not warm outside, it doesn’t mean outside activities have to come to an end.
Students should be taking advantage of all of the upcoming days when it’s not freezing outside because soon the gray skies and cold temperatures will be more common. The recent time change makes it dark outside pretty much halfway through the day, so soaking up as much time in the sun as you can is ideal.
Ainsley Brandabur is a freshman studying journalism. Please note that the opinions expressed in this column do not reflect those of The Post. Want to talk to Ainsley? Email her at ab557022@ohio.edu.
