I’m snowed in today, with the nasty-nasty sleet + snow combination keeping me from unearthing my car and heading into work.  My wife, on the other hand, wasn’t so lucky.

At 5:30 this morning, with the snow tapering off to light flurries, we started the long and arduous process of digging her car out from beneath the plowed snow.  Now, I won’t bore you with too many mundane details about shoveling technique, but I can suggest a few items to help you adequately prepare yourself for the cold.

First things first: stretch!  A lot of the shoveling motion is a bend-and-twist, so make sure to get your back all good and limber.  Once your back is in working condition, make sure to stretch out your legs and arms.  Being good and loosened up is a great way to avoid injury in the inclement weather.

Next, make sure you drink plenty of fluids before going outside.  It may sound stupid, but staying hydrated in the cold is very important.   While hydrating, you may want to pop a few ibuprofen or tylenol if you’ve been privy to back aches and pains — it’s better to head it off at the pass now than having to wait the 30 or so minutes for the pain relief to kick in.

Finally, before heading outside, make sure you layer up!  This means to put on two pairs of socks, long johns, t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and a coat if you need to.  A nice warm hat is also highly recommended, as well as a scarf.  If you’re ready for the elements, you can stay active longer in the cold.

I’ll leave you with some advice: Please don’t stay outside for prolonged periods of time shoveling snow, clearing sidewalks or clearing off your car.  Take a few breaks, drink some water and take it easy.  The snow will still be there waiting!