I've come to accept that, as a Michigander, cold weather is inevitable. However, I have learned that I don't have to suffer through the cold weather and that it can be--dare I say it--enjoyable. Try these 5 tips to stay warm this winter and start enjoying life in the cold!
1.)
Keep your body warm
When you're at home and start to feel chilly, it's tempting to run to the thermostat and turn it way up. Instead, find a way to warm yourself up first by using a blanket, putting on an extra layer of clothing and/or making yourself a hot cup of tea or hot chocolate. It's much easier, and cost effective, to warm up your body than it is to heat up a whole room.
2.)
Turn on the ceiling fan
Speaking of warming up the room, you don't always have to crank the thermostat to accomplish this. Since heat rises, turning on your ceiling fan at the lowest setting, in a clockwise direction, will help bring the warm air hanging out at the ceiling down to you, shivering on the floor.
3.)
Prepare your windows for winter weather
When it's cold and windy outside, a lot of cold air can slip in through your windows. Changing your curtains from the thin ones that you put on in the summer to heavier wool or fleece curtains can help reduce the draft and keep your house warmer. Just make sure to open the curtains on sunny days to take advantage of free heat.
4.)
Deceiving your thermostat
If you live in an apartment, or work in an office building, you don't always have the option to control the temperature of the thermostat. If you find yourself in this predicament, there's a life-hack that's right for you. "Trick" the thermostat into thinking it's colder than it really is by setting a cup of ice next to it. You can thank us later.
5.)
Wear a hat
Although it's not true that you lose upwards of 45% of your body heat from your head, it is true that any skin you leave uncovered will let that precious warmth slip away. Wearing a hat, even when you're inside, is a great way to keep some of that body heat right where it belongs; in your body.
There you have it: winter weather, though frequently unwelcome and underappreciated, does not have to be miserable. Find even more tips to overcome the cold right
here
.
Stay toasty!
Bonus Tip:
Find everything you need to dress warmer this winter at your local Salvation Army Family Store. All while spending less!
Source: 12 Toasty Tips for Staying Warm in Cold Weather by Amanda Green on mentalfloss.com
