Today is Sept. 23, which means fall is finally here! Yes, finally my favorite time of year! There are plenty of reasons to love fall! Everything is pumpkin flavored, the leaves change color, there is a holiday that basically celebrates being a glutton and lingerie, and animal ear headbands become “costumes.” Along with all of this, love is in the air- well, temporary love. The onset of autumn marks the beginning of cuffing season.

So what is cuffing season? Cuffing or cuffin’ season, depending on who you are talking to, is loosely defined by Urban Dictionary as: “the time during the Fall and Winter months when people who would normally rather be single or promiscuous find themselves, along with the rest of the world desiring to be “Cuffed,” or tied down by a serious relationship.”

It’s the time of year where people too cheap to spend money on a decent hoodie or sweater prefer to get their body heat from another human being.The cuffing epidemic plagues the fall/winter months like the flu by attacking the most vulnerable of us all: the lonely, the clingy and those of us who cannot afford to turn our heat up because of apartment overages.

With a pre-game season starting at the end of August/beginning of September, the true season really starts the first day of autumn and will end on the first day of spring, March 20. But at Georgia Southern, with Spring Break starting before the 20, it tends to end earlier to allow the “cuffer” to assimilate back into the single culture of most college students.

Cuffing season can be a strange thing. A lot of crazy things happen when people are ravenous for a cuddle buddy. So though I am not a participant in this year’s festivities, I thought I would give my thoughts on how to survive cuffing season.

1.Keep the other person informed

The “cuffie” and the “cuffer” should know that this relationship is temporary. It is unfair for you to commit to someone who maybe thinking of long term when you know good and well that you only want to have someone to hold during Snowpocalypse: The Sequel. Be considerate of other people’s emotional well-being and let them know upfront what your intentions are.

2. Know what you want

Cuffing season doesn’t last that long, and there are plenty of people looking for someone to cuff, which means the pickings can be slim. With that in mind it is in your best interest to know what you want and actually look for that person. Otherwise you could end up settling for Pepsi when you really want a Coke.

3. Uncuff if necessary

It’s all fun and games until stuff gets real. If you start to notice that the person you’re with isn’t looking for a fall/winter fling, but a long-lasting relationship, you need to let them go. It’s better to be single than sorry.

4. Don’t be too thirsty

If you try to cuff someone and they say “no,” move on. There is nothing worse than being labeled as a creep because you can’t take no for an answer. Being desperate is not a good look.

5.This is not for everyone

Remember that you do not have to participate in this season. Some people like myself are made for long term relationships and wouldn’t consider anything like this. That’s completely okay! Just watch from the sidelines as these autumnal soap operas unfold.