How to Stay Warm in Cold Weather

Wear thermal layers. This is an easy way to stay warm without much effort. Thermal layers are worn under your regular clothes, available in various forms to provide warmth without being too heavy or complicated.

• Common thermal layers include socks, leggings, thermal shirts, and long underwear.
• However, remember that thermal layers can become inconvenient if you're in a warm room and wearing several layers of clothes on top.
• For example, if you're dressed in multiple layers for work in a heated office, you'll find that the thermal layer underneath is unnecessary.
• After skiing, you can shed the outer layers and just wear your thermal layers while warming up by the fire in a mountain cabin. If your thermal layer isn't see-through, it's perfectly appropriate for après-ski relaxation.

Wear a waterproof outer layer. If you know you'll be exposed to wet conditions, it's important to wear a waterproof outer layer to stay warm. If your clothes get wet, they will only make you colder. You may get wet from rain, snow, or water splashing (such as when boating or walking through puddles on the street).

• You can wear a raincoat over a warm but non-waterproof jacket. When shopping for outerwear, look for materials that are both waterproof and warm, like neoprene fabric.

Wear insulating layers. In addition to staying dry, you need clothing that provides good insulation. You may have heard of wool, but it's not for everyone. You can explore other options with more easily accessible materials and go shopping!

• Wear wool if possible. Wool is one of the best insulating materials, though it can be expensive. You can wear wool clothing instead of just a wool jacket to reduce the number of layers you need to wear. Many affordable wool items are available at vintage stores.
• Other warm materials include leather, fur, and neoprene.
• Wool will still keep you warm even when wet. Other materials like leather or cotton padding won’t perform as well.

Protect your head, feet, and hands. While you may not lose a significant amount of heat through your head or feet, it's true that it's much harder to stay warm if you don't protect these areas. When outside, make sure to protect your head, hands, and feet with scarves, hats, gloves, thick wool socks, and boots. You can also wear two pairs of socks or thermal leggings under your jeans. This may not be the most fashionable look, but it will keep you warm.

• An important point is that all your clothing should be waterproof, as these body parts are very sensitive to moisture and cold. For instance, try wearing leather-lined gloves if you can.

Protect yourself from the elements. When you have to go outside, try to avoid rain, snow, puddles, ice, and wind. You might feel cold when exposed to these elements, even though your clothes and body can generally handle the air temperature. Move quickly between buildings, use a car when possible, and cover your head when stepping outside.

Bring warming items with you. You can bring small heat sources with you if you need extra help staying warm. Small items like hand warmers can be kept in your coat pocket and will work wonders when your gloves aren’t enough to keep your hands warm. Other items, like a thermos with hot soup, can help warm you up from the inside.

• You can even make your own hand warmers if you can’t find them at a reasonable price. Many websites provide easy instructions using suitable materials.

Wear properly fitting clothes. We all know you want to look stylish, but there’s a reason why Eskimos wear those large coats and loose pants. Tight clothes won’t help keep you warm and comfortable. If you want to stay warm, ensure your clothing fits loosely enough to trap a layer of warm air between your skin and your clothes.

Exercise to generate body heat. If your clothes aren't keeping you warm enough, let your body create heat through movement. Exercise will burn energy and produce warmth. Try doing some workouts, or at least avoid sitting still.

• Jumping jacks are a good option if you're indoors. However, if you're outside, exercises like that can be dangerous due to slippery ground. A safer outdoor exercise is lunges, which have less risk of slipping.

Layer your clothing for easy adjustments in varying environments. The simplest rule for staying warm both indoors and outdoors is to wear multiple layers. If you ask people living in cold regions like Alaska or Norway, they will tell you to layer up. It allows for flexibility, whether you're in freezing conditions outdoors or in a warm room.

• An example of this layering could be wearing long socks, jeans, a long-sleeved shirt, a button-up shirt, a sweater, and a jacket. By wearing all or some of these, you can easily adjust between different environments like a stuffy classroom, a freezing office, a cold store, or the freezing outdoors without hassle.

Insulate your home. Make sure your home is as insulated as possible. You may need to replace the insulation materials in your walls or ceiling. Alternatively, you can do simpler things like installing curtains or covering windows with blankets.

• Honeycomb-style blinds are very effective at blocking cold air from entering the room and are often cheaper than other types of curtains.
• You can also add an extra layer of insulation to your windows and glass doors with window film, a transparent adhesive plastic material that sticks to all types of glass.

Close unused rooms and focus on heating the central room. It's easier and less expensive to warm one room than an entire apartment or house. Choose a room your family uses often and isolate it from the rest of the house. Close the doors and drape blankets over them. Concentrate heaters or other methods to warm that room. This way, you avoid the hassle of heating rooms that aren't in use.

Seal any gaps that let in cold air. Pay attention to cracks and gaps through which cold air might enter your home or between rooms with different insulation levels. The most common gaps are under doors, but cold air can also seep through window cracks, and rooms above basements may have cold air rising through the floors.

• Blankets and rolled-up rugs can be used to easily seal off these gaps.

Prepare your bed for warmth. You'll want your bed to be at least somewhat warm before you get in and fall asleep. No one wants to snuggle into a cold bed. There are many ways to prepare your bed before bedtime:

• Place a hot water bottle under the blanket at the foot of the bed, or use a hairdryer to warm the blanket for 10-20 minutes on a medium or high heat setting.

Bake cookies or anything, seriously! Turning on the oven and setting it to a typical baking temperature of around 365°F will warm the room and make it feel cozy. Warm up your kitchen on the weekends while you enjoy freshly baked cookies or a dinner with roasted dishes.

• Drying clothes can also help warm up nearby rooms. Plan your laundry days for particularly cold days. You can even wear the clothes right out of the dryer to stay warmer.

Drink something hot. Whether it's a cup of hot lemon tea or Mexican coffee, hot drinks can warm you from the inside out. Put the kettle on the stove and get your cups ready, because you're about to enjoy a cozy and warm moment!

• You might think or hear someone suggest adding alcohol to your hot beverages for extra warmth, but that's not helpful advice. Alcohol actually lowers your body temperature, despite giving you a feeling of warmth. Avoid drinking alcohol if your home is extremely cold.

Take a hot shower or soak in a hot bath. A hot shower will warm you up temporarily, but it won't last long. If you start feeling cold again just five minutes after, remember to bundle up right after stepping out. Put on cozy home clothes, a bathrobe, and slippers to keep that warmth in after your hot bath.

• Wear clothing that can cover your ears to keep them warm.
• If you're going to school, try to layer up with more clothing. This way, you'll always have enough clothes to wear. It's terrible being stuck in the cold at school since you won’t have access to extra layers.
• Boots are a winter essential. Try to get at least two pairs: one waterproof pair for rainy days and a warm, stylish pair for dry but cold days.
• Your breath also acts as a tiny heater. Zip or button up your coat and breathe inside it. It’ll generate a bit of warmth. However, keep in mind that your breath is humid and could dampen your jacket. On extremely cold days, try wearing a face mask to shield your face from the wind while allowing the moisture to escape.
• Cold weather can dry and crack your lips, which can be painful and unsightly. If you'll be outside for extended periods, be sure to carry lip balm and apply it several times a day before stepping out.
• For extra protection, try wearing thin gloves underneath your full-fingered ones so your fingers won’t freeze when you need to do something with them.
• Have blankets on hand.
• To prevent slipping on ice, you can buy rubber soles that easily attach to your shoes and are compact enough to carry in your bag.
• If your feet are cold on your way to school, try wearing tights, or boys can wear two pairs of socks for added warmth.
• Layering is key. Wear multiple layers on your upper body, such as a T-shirt, sweater, coat, and scarf. For the lower half, a pair of lined jeans will work great, and you won’t need to wear long underwear. Only a few brands make these, and a fashionable option right now is Winter Blues Jeans. Don’t forget a hat, as the top of your head is where you lose the most heat.
• If you’re feeling cold while walking, take a break (if you have time) and head into a nearby building to warm up before continuing on.
• Avoid staying outside too long in freezing weather. You risk frostbite, hypothermia, or at the very least, a cold.

• Staying outside too long in the cold can lead to severe illnesses, even life-threatening conditions. You need to take excellent care of yourself.
• Consult with your doctor before staying outside for long periods, especially if you have a life-threatening condition.

• Winter Coat (wool or wool-blend)
• Insulated Boots
• Foot Warmer Pads
• Hand Warmer Pads
• Gloves
• Non-slip Shoes
• Multiple Layers of Clothing
• Fleece-lined Knee High Socks
• Fur-lined Ear Muffs
• Headwear
• Plenty of Blankets to Keep Cozy!