Cold weather tips & tricks to stay on time for school, work, and job interviews

February … the time of year when the Salt Lake valley endures the harshest of winter storms. A time when it snows so hard that you can’t tell where the sidewalk ends and the road begins. The driving conditions are dangerous, it’s freezing outside, and it’s really tempting to stay at home and watch Netflix all day.

However, as students of the David Eccles School of Business, we have places to be, classes to attend to and work to be done. Snow can be a great thing for those well equipped for it, but it also can be a major inconvenience if you’re like me and have never dealt with driving in the snow before. No matter where you lie on that spectrum, even the smallest snow storm can unexpectedly push back people’s schedules quite a bit. Here are some tips to help you conquer the battles of driving in the snow, and staying on time for the important things in life:

• Shovel out your car the night before if you know it’s not supposed to snow throughout the night. Shoot, even if it is supposed to snow, it’s a good idea to shovel anyway because that’s less that you have to do when you wake up. It’s going to be dreadful, but you’ll thank yourself for the extra 20 minutes of sleep in the morning.
• If you get stuck in the snow, use your floor mats to create traction for your tires. Simply place them in front of the tires that are spinning, and you should generate enough traction to get out quickly. This technique may require you to have to clean them afterward, but at least you won’t be stuck.
• One of my favorite Christmas presents that I received this year was a windshield cover  — lame, I know, but that’s how you know you’re truly adulting. I highly recommend getting one. Before it snows, I place the cover over my windshield and side mirrors, and this allows me to save time by not have to scrape ice off of my car when I have to leave. All I have to do is pull it off, and the powder comes with it. You can buy one from Amazon here!
• Have you ever tried to unlock your car and you can’t because the lock is frozen over? Hand sanitizer is the answer to this one. The alcohol acts as a defroster and breaks down the ice even better than other de-icing brands. This also can work on your windshield wipers if they are frozen to the window.

Aside from the different life hacks for dealing with the snow, it’s also important to drive safe and be aware of your surroundings. Drive carefully, be prepared, and don’t let snow be the reason you are late.