Winter isn’t always a wonderland. But it is almost always cold. Staying warm can be a challenging endeavor, especially if you’re planning on staying outside. There are a lot of fun things to do even just as far as your fence-line, but it can be hard to enjoy anything when your fingers are frozen shut. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to keep nice and cozy, even away from the safety and comfort of your home. Here are a few of them:
Handmade Hand Warmers
One of the ways you can keep warm when going outside, especially for shorter trips, is to take a water bottle and fill it with hot water. Stick it in your pockets, or in the case of hoodies, the little pouch on the front. As an added bonus, when they cool down, you can drink them! Stay hydrated out there. Just because it’s not hot doesn’t mean you don’t need plenty of water. And hey, warm water trickling down your throat can be a nice contrast to the frostiness that would otherwise chill your breath.
Layers, Layers, Layers
This one’s a no-brainer, but it has to be said anyway: wearing layers is a wonderful (and adjustable) way to keep warm. To get the most out of your layers, wear the softer, puffy layers against your skin, and gradually work your way to thicker, denser fabric on the outside. (This trick works with blankets, too!) Of course, you can also wear a jacket on top of those. That way, you lose the minimal amount of heat by way of convection, and your natural body heat can keep you feeing nice and toasty. The way you arrange your layers can matter as much as wearing layers at all.
Group Up
Doing things together with friends can be a great way to keep your social life nice and healthy under the excuse of beating the cold. Grouping up and staying close to each other can help you share what would otherwise be lost heat amongst yourselves. This is especially good for the couples out there! Don’t be afraid to snuggle up against your wife or husband. Winter weather is just one more opportunity for you to get closer (literally!) with your partner.
Exercise
Get that blood pumping! Nothing heats your body up like a good, old fashioned jog. And not only do you stay warmer, you stay healthier to boot! Be sure to breathe through your nose on your routine jogs, as the cold air can make your lungs colder and dehydrate you faster. Taking a warm water bottle with you would be a great way to kill two birds with one stone. Stay warm, stay healthy, and stay hydrated!
