The brutal reality of living through a Saskatchewan winter can make a healthy lifestyle difficult to uphold, but it is not impossible to thrive through the freezing weather. 

Across the province, the early cold snaps are just a guarantee that things are going to get a lot worse before they get any warmer.

Survival tactics are a must and as the school year heads into a frigid winter season, we have no choice but to live a more sedentary lifestyle. 

Here are four tips to staying healthy as we enter another long winter.

1. Pack nutritious food

Undoubtedly, the University of Saskatchewan offers every kind of food a student who skipped breakfast could desire. Although many nutritious meals are available, it can be too convenient just to buy a honey cruller from Tim Horton’s and shove it down your throat within the 10 minutes between classes.

Packing food and snacks from home can help you resist being seduced by the plethora of smells coming from Lower Place Riel all while not blowing your budget. Not only will you save time by avoiding lines, but sticking to a healthy diet prevents your body from changing faster than the seasons do.

2. Stay active

During a Saskatchewan winter, most people plan their days around being outside as little as possible when temperatures get too extreme. But just because it is so cold that you and your car are not running anymore does not mean you no longer require the recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week.

One way to stay active and keep warm is by joining a campus recreation league or club offered by the U of S. By participating in one of the many sports and recreational activities can be a positive experience for maintaining a healthy lifestyle while meeting new people with similar interests.

3. Try not to get sick

Winter also functions as a synonym for the flu season. Even though getting sick is going to be an inevitable, taking good care of your health is the best way to keep your immune system strong. Individuals can also get a free flu shot at the Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy in Place Riel with a valid Saskatchewan health card during October.

Everyone at the U of S can prevent others from getting sick by washing your damn hands — you know who you are — and if you are sick, remember to stay at home so others do not catch that nasty seasonal cold.

4.  Sleep

When the prairie days get shorter and the sun sets at 5:30 p.m. and rises after 9 a.m. each morning, it gets difficult to maintain a healthy sleeping pattern. Getting less than the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep every night negatively impacts academic performance and makes life nearly unbearable.

Getting enough sleep plays a critical role in all aspects of your health, not only improving your immune function but learning and memory as well. Developing good sleeping habits helps to avoid those courageous all-nighter study sessions. It will allow your body and mind the restorative time it needs to stay mentally and physically healthy during this frigid winter.

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Noah Callaghan/ Staff Writer

Photo supplied by University of Saskatchewan, University Archives & Special Collections, Facilities Management funds