- Get your sweaters out.
Literally. Get out all the extra layers you may have on your closet and put them on, or at least make sure to place them somewhere you’ll find them when needed. It might sound redundant to say “get your winter clothes out on winter”, but it’s necessary. Now that we are in the subject, try to put on a couple of extra shirts under your coat while you’re on chilly weather, keeping your core warm is vital when temperatures start going down.
- Warm yourself before you are cold.
Conditioning yourself into a warm temperature is easier than conditioning the entire room. Drink tea, hot chocolate, black coffee, wrap yourself in a blanket or something; also, yes, put more clothes on. Whatever you need to start feeling a little heated up before you start feeling the chills.
- Eat warm foods.
Food does not only taste better when it’s just out of the oven, but it also warms you up from the inside out. As well, try to indulge yourself a bit, and eat extra healthy fats during the cold seasons, would you? If the bears can do it, why can’t we?
- Don’t drink alcohol.
Alcoholic drinks burn, that’s true, but they also reduce your core temperature and this is especially dangerous during the winter months.
Alcohol contraries some reflexes that control body temperature, particularly the body’s ability to shiver, and it also can make you sweat, which lowers core temperatures even further.
- Switch between hot and cold water on the shower.
I know, I know, it sounds crazy to bathe with cold in winter, but hear me out in this. Hot showers warm you up, yes, but cold showers improve blood flow between your skin and organs. (Yes, for real.) The two of these are vital in cold weather, and switching between the two temperatures will more than beneficial for you.
- Wear sunglasses… in winter.
If you’re walking in the snow during the day, wear sunglasses to guard your eyes against the glare. And – since we are speaking about walking here – if you’re walking at night, make sure to dress in colors other than white and wear reflective clothes to warn drivers to your being there.
- Put warm clothes on your windows.
Not literally, of course. (Windows are not fashionistas, after all.) But do swap the thin curtains with weightier fabric in the winter, and be sure to open them on sunny days to get free heat.
- Prepare a car emergency kit.
Car rides can get pretty dangerous in winter, and for more than one reason, so if you’re embarking yourself in one of those, build up a kit with all the tools you may need in different-case scenarios. The trouble with the engine, tires, etc., and bring extra sweaters or something to warm you up just in case.
- Bake!
What a treat, am I right! Turn on that oven and put some cookies, muffins, and cakes on it! The kitchen heat will warm the room, and the snacks will warm your belly. it’s the perfect plan!
- Be careful with the signs of hypothermia.
Hypothermia is some serious condition that you should watch out for. It consists of the lowing of the body temperature to alarming levels, which can affect the person’s brain. Educate yourself on this subject and learn how to help someone in this condition, it is most expected to come up at extremely cold temperatures, but it can happen even at simply cool temperatures if a person becomes iced from rain, sweat or cold water.
- Prepare compost.
Some people might find compost gross, but some others are interested in composting, and it can bring more benefits than what you think as the microbial breakdown of organic material produces heat. Think about that the next time you call it gross.
- Make some DIY hand warmers.
Or buy them. The point we are discussing here is to keep your hands warm.
- Get used to the weather.
Go out for a walk, or plenty of them, it will help your body to get accustomed to the new temperatures to decrease the danger of becoming too affected by them.
- Know the risks surrounding you.
Age disturbs the human body’s cold-coping defenses. Kids younger than 2 years old have not established the aptitude to shiver to increase their body temperatures, and people over age 60 are less capable to produce heat through shivering. If one of your family members or beloved ones is on this age ranges, ask your doctor and take special measures to ensure their safety.