Whether you’re sitting comfortably at home or out picking up last-minute gifts, staying warm in the winter months can prove tricky. But with so many seasonal outdoor activities, holiday parties, and other events to attend, finding a way to stay comfortable despite dropping temperatures is essential if you’re going to get the most out of winter. Consider trying a few of these strategies for beating the cold.
Accessorize
We all know the old myth that your body loses the majority of its heat through the head. While there’s no truth to it, it’s a fact that any exposed part of the body will expel some heat and leave you colder. Earmuffs, hats, gloves, and scarves will help you to cover the most surface area and therefore maintain your body temperature for longer.
Eat Healthy Fats
If you’re into fitness, you know that the holidays can be one of the most difficult times to maintain your diet. Christmas dinners and holiday parties inevitably mean cocoa, cookies, and other sugar confections, but weight gain isn’t the only problem an unhealthy diet poses in the winter. Eating clean meals, particularly with healthy fats, will keep your metabolism in check which in turn helps your body stay warm naturally.
Check Your Heater
If you find that you’re getting cold only in certain parts of the house then it’s a sure sign that something is wrong with your heater. When working properly, your home heating system should be able to uniformly spread heat throughout the house and maintain it without constantly adjusting the thermostat. If you’ve been putting off having your boiler checked or replaced, early winter is the best time to call in and have a heating company like Mercury Tec assess the situation. If you wait too long into the season you’ll have to take a place in line behind all the other procrastinators.
Insulate Your Home
Once you’ve addressed your home’s heating system, it’s time to take steps and make sure all that warm air stays indoors where it belongs. It might be tempting to use thick curtaining to help insulate windows, but don’t forget to let some sunlight in during the day to allow some natural heat in. Instead, focus on any gaps in the window frame itself. Spaces under doors can be insulated by simply rolling up a towel or blanket and placing it in front of the gap.
Beat the Rush
Winter weather is only just getting started. Take these last few days before Christmas to take any steps you need to keep you and your family warm during winter. Buy winter apparel before it sells out, stock your fridge with plenty of metabolism-boosting foods, and schedule any heating repairs you need to beat the post-holiday rush.