My first Saturday in Chicago for 2018 was only the second time in my life that I had experienced temperatures below -10 C

The first time was in NYC in Jan 2010, when the temperature hit -16 C (-20 C with windchill). This introduction to New York was a painful one, where my hangs were in agonising pain and the rest of my body was numb. Despite planning to spend the entire day in NYC, I convinced my father to return to New Jersey, simply because I was in more pain that I had ever experienced in my life. My dad was not happy... I came to hate NYC until I went back in August 2011 for a semester abroad. New York.

On the other hand, my Chicago experience was a polar opposite. I was somewhat comfortable, nothing hurt and I came to appreciate the beauty of snow-covered winter in Chicago, I even had moments where I considered how I would miss the snow and the cold once I returned to Australia. And on the warmer days where the snow disappeared, I looked forward to it returning.

What made the difference this time?

Layers matter

Before I came to Chicago, I had one cold weather plan: Canada Goose and Uber. But instead of buying a $1,000 jacket, I took the advice of a few classmates and just used layers instead. Whenever I go out, I wear a regular shirt, a merino/lambswool sweater, a peacoat, a scarf, gloves and a beanie. And this is enough.

It's definitely annoying, and a time sink, to have to put on a lot of clothes every time I go outside (where it is very cold) and then have to quickly take everything off when I come back inside, before I start sweating profusely (given buildings etc. are heated very warmly). However, it has saved me a lot of money and helped me better adapt to the colder climate of Chicago.

Knowing my pain points

Since that fateful day in NYC, I've come to learn what my cold weather pain points are. Whenever the temperature drops, the first things to go numb and hurt are my fingers. So the first thing I did during autumn was to buy really good cashmere lined gloves. While these gloves were good, the real saving grace came from a friend who told me that "the best gloves are actually mittens". Mittens keep my hands warm, regardless of how cold it is outside. A nice cashmere beanie and cold weather boots (LL Bean/Nike) take care of my other pain points - my ears and, to a lesser extent, my toes.

Being okay with being uncomfortable

Extreme cold is not nice.

Even with a lot of layers, good shoes, gloves etc., I still feel the cold. My legs are often cold and slightly numb and my face is also often cold and windswept. Extreme cold isn't bad, but it's not happiness and sunshine either. Being okay with this situation, and not trying to be comfortable at all times with multiple layers of long underwear etc. has helped me deal with the cold far better than I expected.

I've come to understand that I don't need to be comfortable in the cold. I just can't be painfully uncomfortable.

Good shoes matter

Having waterproof, dry shoes with some heat retention makes an incredible contribution to my overall happiness in the Chicago cold. My LL Bean and Nike Hunting boots help me go wherever I want in the cold, and keep me comfortable and safe while I do it.

Appreciating the beauty

Winter time in Chicago is beautiful. Falling snow is beautiful. Seeing undisturbed snow on the ground, and covering everything, is beautiful.

Learning to appreciate the uniqueness of the snowing cold in Chicago, and the beauty that it holds, has made me go from tolerating the cold, to truly enjoying winter in Chicago.