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Ice. We’re expecting some tomorrow when snow changes over to sleet and ice.

Considering the amount of snow we are getting I thought it would be nice to share what I found from “experts” on the Internet who apparently know how to shovel it.

Snow, that is.

I follow few, if any of these tips for shoveling snow (especially #6), but most of it is sound. There was more about stretching before beginning, but seriously… how many of us do stretching exercises before shoveling?

Not me.

I prefer pulling a couple of muscles so I will have something to bitch about.

My only real advice:

1. Get yourself a snow shovel with an ergonomic handle. It’s easier on the back. Much easier.

They are calling for snow followed by ice tonight. Possibly a half inch of ice. I won’t shovel snow until the ice is finished coming down. It’s a lot easier shoveling snow with ice on it and having a clean sidewalk, than it is shoveling snow and letting the ice freeze to bare sidewalk. You can’t shovel ice.

So, for those of you who have only watched others from behind your bay window, while sipping on a warm cup of cocoa, here are tips on how to correctly shovel snow.

Ten Tips From Snow Shoveling Gurus

1. Little Bites

Resist the urge to jump at the white stuff just to get the job done. Pace yourself. Start slowly and ramp up to speed.

2. Don’t move snow twice

Before you even take your first scoop, decide where you’re going to dump the snow. Drop the first shovelful farther away from where you are standing, then dump remaining snow closer and closer to where you are. That way, the last scoops that you shovel are moved the shortest distance. Don’t block access to snow that needs to be removed by piling it up in a way that will force you to move it twice.

3. Move snow the shortest distance possible

Consider that everything from a driveway to a patio to a walkway is really a rectangle, and rectangles have a center point. Move the snow from the center of the rectangle to the nearest edge.

4. Clean off cars first

Brush snow off cars then clear around the cars.

5. Do the foreground then the background

For example, to clear snow from a rectangle, first shovel a strip clear along the perimeter of the rectangle. Then, moving from the center to the edge, push the snow into the cleared area. Next, lift and throw the snow out of the area.

6. Maintain proper posture:

A. Use your leg muscles as much as possible – push snow when you can and use your legs to lift when you can’t push it.
B. Keep your back straight as you move from the squat position to the upright position.
C. Use your shoulder muscles as much as possible.
D. Hold the snow shovel as close to your upper body as possible.
E. Keep one hand close to the shovel blade for better leverage.
F. Don’t twist your upper body as you throw snow.

7. Keep hydrated

Take bottles of water out with you and keep them accessible, either in the car or on the front stoop or somewhere else convenient.

8. Rest frequently

Clearing an area by hand means that you may lift and carry anywhere from hundreds of pounds to tons of snow.

9. Be thorough but not fussy

The sun is relatively strong this time of year. Clear an area, spread a de-icer if necessary and then let the sun do the rest. The fact is, any surface color that you expose in shoveling (gray, green, brown or black) will be far less reflective than a thick blanket of snow, and remaining snow will melt more easily from that darker surface.

10. Don’t overdress

You need to stay warm, but if you overdress you’re going to be soaked in sweat in no time. Dress in loose-fitting layers that you can peel off as you heat up.