It may not be winter for another couple of weeks, but the thermometer is reading below the doughnut and the first snowstorm of the season was a big one.

School was canceled across the state for a day or two and Bangor’s overnight parking ban downtown has been in force for several days while the white stuff was removed by dedicated city employees.

Closer to home, residents have struggled in similar fashion to clear driveways so the family chariot could reach the street and go to work, school or holiday shopping. Homeowners wrestled with shovels and snowblowers, and traffic flowed once more.

For the baby boomers among us, the joy of winter is escaping us after all these years. We suffer from large and small aches and pains as a result of our recent snow removal labors. These annoyances can be accompanied by shortness of breath and that dreaded slip and fall on the ice and the very nasty consequences of the hard landing.

While we worry about whether the snowblower is properly maintained to get us through the season, we seldom spend the time to focus on another essential element of the process. That element is us. We are aging, sometimes gracefully, sometimes not. Often we spend more time and energy to get the snow removal equipment in tip-top shape than we do ourselves.

Here are a few common-sense suggestions to keep in better shape, especially in this arctic season. Before implementing one or more of them, be sure to check with your family physician.

. Try an aspirin a day to ward off heart attacks, cataracts, dementia and other health maladies that can have serious consequences.

. Still smoking? Tough addiction. Reduce, or better yet, stop completely.

. Fish oil supplement tablets can help your cardiovascular system in many positive ways. They may also help reduce aches and pains in the muscles and the joints. Also, eat more fish that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. These would include salmon, herring, sardines and mackerel. These are seafood products Mainers know well and have easy access to.

. Women over 50 should consider 1,000 to 1,200 milligrams of calcium pill supplements. Getting enough calcium from food alone is very difficult. It is much harder to remove snow and perform many other physical activities in life with osteoporosis.

. Walk 30 minutes a day, five days a week. Find a warm inside mall or recreational center or perhaps invest in a quality treadmill. Some who don’t mind the cold are walking in the downtown Bangor parking garage to avoid the ice and snow. Regular exercise is important for reducing many health ailments. If walking is not for you, find other regular, sensible exercise and stick to your walking schedule.

. Check your body mass index (a quick Google search will make this easy). Losing a few pounds or more can greatly improve your health and quality of life. Set a goal. Reduce the intake of holiday treats through smaller portions or abstinence. Drastic, quick reduction plans most often fail. Find a sensible plan you can live with and stick to it.

. There is an avalanche of scientific health evidence that shows that a glass or two of wine or beer each day has positive health benefits. These benefits include reduction of cardiovascular disease, cancer, strokes and hip fractures. Beware that more intake than two drinks does not increase health benefits. The converse is true, and more alcohol intake than recommended can greatly reduce overall health.

. Vitamin C tablets or fresh citrus fruits can have a very positive impact on health. Don’t shy away from oranges, grapefruit, lemons or limes.

. Find ways to reduce the stress in your life. Perhaps spending the winter in a warmer climate – such as Florida, Arizona or the Caribbean – may be the best stress reliever of all.

Should you choose to follow, on a regular basis, all or some of these simple tips for better health, it should reduce some of those scary medical bills. Also, next winter, when you head for the garage to start up that old snowblower for the first time, you will certainly be one year older, but perhaps a year healthier.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast CONTACT, Maine’s membership funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual and business memberships are available at modest rates. Interested and motivated prospective volunteers are always needed and welcomed to apply to help with our mission. For assistance with consumer-related issues, including consumer fraud and identity theft, or for more information, write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor ME 04402-1329.