The cold air hit many students with fear and anticipation this week, triggering in many a Pavlovian-like response to curl up in a ball and cry. As the icy wind digs into the skin, I must forewarn those who have not yet faced a winter in Chicago. As for those who have seen that monster and lived to tell the tale, we must share our knowledge like the last survivors in a zombie apocalypse to remain in what I would dub the “living world.”

Winters are harsh and not just in temperature. Friendships will be tested. SAD (seasonal affective disorder) will be diagnosed. And inordinate amounts of food will be consumed. So let us discuss a few ways in which we can fend off this abominable beast, the Northwestern Winter Recluse.

The first step is to know you are not alone. While you’re curled up in a big down blanket at the end of your bed, awake at 3 a.m., know that there are students all over campus in similar fetal positions trying to pinpoint exactly why life sucks. Now my remedy might seem a bit counterintuitive to one trapped between a hard bed and warm sheets, but here it is: Suffer in groups. Go to Unicorn Cafe, turn your head toward your roommate or even use your legs to go to Norris or another public place. Simply seeing the mutual misery on others’ faces will somewhat alleviate your symptoms. “Misery loves company” is an apt quote that might as well be stitched into every article of Northwestern gear you own.

Now we must tackle the problem of class. Homework will pile up on your desk, paper due dates will come and pass and GPAs will sink lower than your dating standards. There must be some way around this trend, and don’t worry — there is. Take more entertaining classes. Take Intro to Painting. Take Acting for Non-Majors. Take Intro to Buddhism. Take anything that doesn’t need MATLAB or require a presentation. You may learn something about yourself while reading a play or painting a banana your roommate bought and forgot about, and it won’t seem like another burden on an already horribly sucky week. You may be learning about Baroque art and wonder how this will help you become a better doctor/lawyer/engineer, and it may not. But you will become a better human. And that is much better than waking up and realizing you had slept through all of your final exams simply because you couldn’t convince yourself to get out of bed.

My final piece of advice is, for the love of Buddha, get yourself off campus and go downtown. Evanston is a dark, dark place in a cold, cold world, whereas Chicago is a somewhat lighter place in a cold, cold world. Things are open later. There’s something romantic about waltzing down the same streets as Obama and Al Capone. The tall buildings flicker in the night and the jazz bars draw in souls like a bug lamp. Explore, discover, eat fondue. Evanston is beautiful in the spring and summer with its lakes and beaches — winter belongs to the city.

For those of you who remain unconvinced that NU doesn’t turn into a winter wonderland with warm fires and house elves serving you hot cocoa at your beck and call, let me say that there will be magical moments. Swirling snow on a walk home, hand in hand with someone whose last name you can’t remember will be a wonderful memory. You’ll drink tea by the gallons and have Christmas parties with your best friends and exchange gifts like you’re old ladies and live for that kind of stuff. You will rock that coat you bought back in May and those boots that you hope to God are warm enough and seal out water. But an NU winter is equal parts wonderful and equal parts hell —so take precautions. Warn your friends. Safeguard your GPA. Buy a HappyLight. Enjoy the last changing leaves, and I’ll see you in the library in tears at 3 a.m.

Maggie Fish is a Communication senior. She can be reached at [email protected]. If you would like to respond publicly to this column, send a Letter to the Editor to [email protected].