By Angel Percentie

Angel Percentie (she/her) is a fourth-year English honours student who loves getting involved on campus. She is a resident assistant, peer writing tutor, student content creator, and editor of Estuary, Acadia’s creative arts magazine.

We all get that feeling when the snow starts sticking to the ground. Suddenly, the lull of a warm, comfy bed is much stronger than the essay that isn’t due until the end of the week. We can feel it in our bones that tomorrow’s going to be a snow day. Of course, we’re excited, but now that it’s arrived, what’s the best way to spend it?

As a certified snow-day-enjoyer, here are my go-to’s:

Check your Acadia Alert

It’s a must! Acadia ALERT is the university’s emergency notification system. AKA the easiest way to confirm you actually have a day off from classes. Once you sign up, you’ll receive an alert through text, email, or phone.

Warning: If you sleep with your notifications off (guilty!), check your messages or Outlook for the alert.

Rest

You’ve been studious the entire week, and snow days are the world’s way of telling you to slow down. Go back to bed. Have that well-deserved nap. Today is for rest and rejuvenation.

Catch up on work

Not to contradict myself, but it’s also okay to catch up on work or get ahead. Just remember to do everything in moderation. A little bit of work and a little bit of play is much better than favouring one over the other.

Stock up on storm chips

You may be tempted to stay hauled inside, instead of braving the cold winter hills to the dining hall. In that case, be sure you have your favourite snacks on hand. My personal favourite is Ruffles All Dressed Chips.

Dress warm

If you do go outside, wear warm clothes: gloves, boots, leg warmers, and earmuffs. Now’s the time to whip out that trendy scarf that’s been packed away since forever ago.

Bonus points if you wear a cute hat.

Make hot chocolate

With the snow out, you have the perfect excuse to make a large cup of hot cocoa. Coffee is for every day, but snow days are meant for marshmallows and chocolate.

Hang out with friends

Friends + snow = sledding, building snow people, making snow angels, and having snowball fights, just to name a few.

Watch a movie or 3

Some say that the Twilight Saga is perfect for fall, but I’d bet it’s just as good in the winter. Get together with friends or enjoy time alone with a good film.

Call someone special

Whenever it snows, I send my mom videos of campus, and we chat on the phone. She’s never seen the snow in real life, so this is my time to show her my world.  Maybe this is your chance to call back home and catch up with someone you’ve been missing.

Winter can be many things. It can be familiar, foreign, dreary, exciting, productive, or fun. What you do with your snow day is entirely up to you. My only request is that you make the most of it.