How-To: Hibernate Your Way Through The Colder Months

"This is the last time I’m leaving my dorm," said my roommate stubbornly this past Saturday night, puffing warm breath into her sweatshirt sleeve. We had departed our dorm building with high expectations for the off-campus nightlife, warmed by the delight of the post-midterm weekend. The wonder of the night, however, was soon spoiled by the inevitable walk home from Kirkwood Street. The Comm. Ave. bus is always a joyful escape from the biting cold in the winter, vibrating with eager students-turned-singers. Yet there is always that walk to the bus stop, the wait for the bus, and the walk from where the bus drops you off to your dorm.

Call me lazy, but frigid weather is not my friend. Because winter arrived so suddenly this year, I was completely caught off guard with my defenses down. I had planned on bringing back my winter gear after Thanksgiving Break, not expecting to be slapped in the face with Hurricane Sandy and post-Hurricane snow. But all that this means is that perhaps hibernation will come early this year.

No, I am not a bear, but yes, I do hibernate come winter. It has become a joke between my friends and me. We laughingly imagine ourselves transforming into hermits when the first snowfall comes—surrounding ourselves with New Hong Kong take-out, living in sweatshirts and pajama pants, and never making contact with other human beings. This is of course an extreme exaggeration, but we truly do look forward to those winter nights when you are "forced" to stay in and watch movies due to the unbearable cold. Thus, I’ve compiled a few tips on how to prepare for hibernation. Don’t be embarrassed—embrace the thrill of isolation.

1. Buy fuzzy, furry, fleecy socks. Winter is the prime time to snuggle up. There is no excuse for being cold inside the dorm. Let’s be honest: the heat is constantly cranked up to about one million degrees in the dorms here, yet there is no shame in walking around in ridiculous outfits as long as they are extremely comfortable. To the girl who walks around in Superman footsie pajamas: I idolize you.

2. Stock up at City Convenience. CityCo is a great go-to grocery store. Not only does it take Eagle Bucks, but also it has (almost) everything you would need for a true night of hibernation. From popcorn to Reese’s peanut butter cups, you are set with one fell-swoop trip to City Convenience.

3. Buy new DVDs and set up a Netflix account. The key to hibernation is not even pretending to be productive in any way. It is an excuse to be lethargic and catch up on mindless shows and movies. In addition to playing the classic movies, hibernation is the ideal time to get hooked on a new show, or watch one of those old movies everyone quotes that you’ve always wanted to see.

4. Create a Foodler/Grubhub Account. Hibernation is made complete by an overabundance of take-out. Grubhub and Foodler offer forums that synthesize all the best restaurants in the surrounding area that deliver right to BC. There is no substitute for comfort food in the cold weather, and really no substitute for comfort food that allows you to remain in your pajamas while you receive and eat it.

5. Plead for a care package. The best part about hibernation is that you can experience home cooking right in the comfort of your own dorm. The combination of all the care packages that my roommates and I received throughout the season from our parents lasted us throughout the entire winter. And the best part is, there is no guilt in eating pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. When there’s a winter storm brewing outside and you can’t make it to Corcoran Commons, a cookie dinner is really all you could manage—and could ever want.

So don’t feel bad if you lose a little motivation to move as the winter dawns upon us. It’s a pretty widespread sentiment on BC’s campus, and you’re definitely not the only one cuddling up on your couch for the night.