12 Simple Hacks to Keep Warm When It’s Cold Outside
Feel toasty even when it’s freezing outdoors
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Whether you’re one of those people who’s always chilly or somebody who lives for cold weather, sometimes enough is enough! When it’s freezing outside, there are some easy hacks to keep warm without having to turn up the heat or hibernating for the entire winter.
Of course, you can don your long underwear or snuggle up on the sofa with blankets piled on top of you, but those aren’t always options. And while there’s plenty of folk wisdom about what to do, we gathered some science-backed ways to feel toastier when it’s cold outside.
From how to keep your hands and feet warm to mental tricks to boost your perception of warmth, we’ve got tips and tricks for chasing away the chills. Next time you’re feeling cold, try these hacks to keep warm when it’s cold outside.
Cover exposed skin.
You actually don’t lose most of your body heat through your head as you’ve likely aways heard. Body heat loss is related to how much skin you expose, not which part of your body you’re exposing.
Still, wear a hat to help yourself stay warm (indoors or out), but don’t forget to layer the rest of your clothing, too.
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Avoid alcohol.
Alcohol may make you feel warmer initially because it dilates blood vessels and sends more blood to your skin. This creates a sensation of warmth, but it also pulls heat away from your body’s core, which means your body temperature isn’t actually raised.
As a diuretic, alcohol also may speed up dehydration, which makes it harder for your body to regulate temperature.
Sip on something hot.
Because our bodies are 50 to 70% water, drinking hot liquids may increase body temperature by a few degrees for a short time. However, the effects are minimal and temporary.
On the other hand, one study found that warm feelings are associated with warm drinks, so the perception of warmth also may help you feel cozier. (Plus, it just feels good to hold a warm mug!).
Keep your hands and feet warm.
Extremities feel colder more quickly because the body’s main job is to keep core organs warm. If your hands and feet feel chilled, wear gloves or try disposable hand or foot warmers.
However, be careful about using these if you have diabetes or circulatory issues because you may not recognize if the temperature becomes too hot.
Stay hydrated.
A lesser-known reason you may be feeling cold is that you may be dehydrated. While you may remember to drink more in the heat of summer, don’t forget you need extra water on cold days, too, to counteract moisture loss from dry air. Keep a water bottle or mug handy so you don't forget to drink.
You also may become dehydrated more quickly during cold weather exercise because cold diminishes thirst, so you don’t realize that you’re actually thirsty.
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Use a space heater.
A space heater can warm a small area quickly without having to turn up the heat in your entire house. However, portable electric heaters are associated with fire risk, so use them safely.
First, make sure your heater is on a stable surface where it won’t get knocked over by kids or pets, and don’t place the cord under a throw rug. Also, plug it directly into the wall, not into an extension cord or power strip. Finally, don’t run it unattended or when you’re asleep.
Make sure you’re getting enough sleep.
Although not well understood, sleep deprivation—even short-term—can make you feel chilly. Lack of sleep may reduce activity in the hypothalamus, which regulates functions including metabolism and body temperature. In addition, besides making you feel cranky, poor sleep is associated with higher rates of getting sick when exposed to viruses.
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Switch on the lights.
It’s no secret that the increased hours of darkness in winter may impact your mood. However, some research also has found that people perceive that they feel warmer in cold temperatures when the lights are brighter. So, go ahead and turn on the table lamps and overhead lights in your home or office, especially if it’s an extra-dark day outdoors.
Get moving.
Feeling a chill? Get up and get moving to increase blood flow. It can be as simple as a quick walk, some gentle stretches, a few squats or 10 minutes on your stationary bike.
Use an electric throw.
Are you always freezing when sitting at your WFH desk or lounging on the sofa? An electric throw is a fast way to get warmer in a hurry. Or use an electric blanket on your bed at night. Again, make sure to use these products with care if you have diabetes, neuropathy or other health conditions.
RELATED: Best Electric Blankets to Stay Warm All Winter Long
Take a trip down memory lane.
There’s not a ton of evidence, but you can give this technique a go! At least one study found that participants who reminisced about something pleasant from their lives or listened to music they used to love perceived the room temperature as warmer.
The theory is that nostalgia may activate the same brain circuits associated with physical warmth so that warm and fuzzy thoughts may make you feel, well, warm and fuzzy on the outside, too
Invest in a humidifier.
While humidity doesn’t increase indoor temperature, it does make a room feel warmer because sweat doesn’t evaporate as quickly (think about how much hotter it feels on a summer day when the humidity levels are high). While a whole-house humidifier is great, you can boost humidity with a room humidifier, too. Keep humidity levels at between 30 to 50%.
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Arricca Elin SanSone is a writer, editor, and content creator who specializes in lifestyle and gardening. With a background in health reporting, she applies these same research skills when writing about the science of growing things. She trials new plants in her expansive garden, and her houseplant collection consists of 60+ varieties. Arricca has written thousands of articles for publications such as Country Living, House Beautiful, Good Housekeeping, Prevention, VERANDA, Southern Living, and more. She’s happiest when digging in the dirt, baking, or spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
