1. Switch up your drinking habits

Now is the season of apple cider, pumpkin spice lattes and hot cocoa galore. Lean into the trend and enjoy all of those drinks as the weather outside gets progressively colder, but let me make a few alternative suggestions to shake up your routine: earl grey or peppermint tea, for starters.

Earl grey is ideal for tea drinkers who want a bold flavor with an immediate calming effect, while peppermint is perfect for those that need their drinks on the sweeter side.

My final recommendation is to try a Harry Potter inspired butterbeer latte– just order a caramel latte with one pump of white mocha and toffee nut syrup and ask for half and half milk instead of two percent, it won’t disappoint!

2. Invest in good boots

September marks that moment in retail when stores are suddenly stocked to the gills with boots. Picking out boots that not only keep you warm and feel comfortable, but look good on those overcast days while walking to class, too, is essential. Try department stores like Target or JCPenney for a wide variety of styles to catch those end of summer deals.

3. Compile a reading list

There isn’t much better than a quiet autumn night in with some tea a good book. With the weather making most people more reluctant to venture outside to hangout, take advantage of your nights without work or term papers and do some pleasure reading. If you’re looking for some great series to get invested in, I recommend “The Infernal Devices” trilogy by Cassandra Clare, “The Lunar Chronicles” series by Marissa Meyer and “The Raven Cycle” series by Maggie Stiefvater.

For stand-alone novels, check out “The Martian,” by Andy Weir, “All the Light We Cannot See,” by Anthony Doerr and “Fangirl,” by Rainbow Rowell.

4. Break out your collection of cozy sweaters

Arguably, my favorite thing about the colder months, getting to wear oversized, thick-knit sweaters. It makes getting out of bed in the morning significantly more bearable.

Some of my favorite more unique sweaters over the years have come from thrift stores, but I’m loyal to H&M and Urban Outfitters for my more polished and high quality sweaters. Again, check out sales as stores transition from summer to fall, online especially. Either way, take a break from classes and go sweater shopping with your friends; it’s always a blast.

5. Start baking

Part of the beauty of chilly weather is getting to indulge in loads of sugar and carbs (although you can find plenty of skinny recipes for baked goods in our weekly Cooking With Carney column).

It’s hard to find things to do with friends when the weather is bad, so invite some friends over and break out the oven mitts.

It’s something fun and cheap to do –especially if you make cookies or cupcakes and choose to decorate them. Then you have snacks for a potential Netflix night. In addition, your house will smell amazing for the rest of the day.