With some arctic temperatures surely headed this way, it’s important to be prepared. It’s also important to prepare with the right attitude, and find ways to make staying warm cozy and fun. With some help from CNN, here are some great tips to get us through the cold spells.
Take a look at 17 ways to stay warm and cozy this winter:
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1. Plug in
Nothing feels better than jumping into a bed that is already warmed up for you. Heated blankets, heating pads, and hot water bottles (following instructions for proper use, of course) can really take the chill out of your bones. Experts say keeping your torso warm is key to keeping your extremities warm.
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2. Move It
As reported in CNN, JohnEric Smith, an associate professor in the department of kinesiology at Mississippi State University, says physical activity can help warm you up. Dancing and indoor exercise are great, but don’t take it to far. As he warns, “We sweat to lose heat and sweating will make us colder.” Or hey, save your big cleaning projects for super cold days. Vacuuming, climbing stairs and scrubbing floors can really warm you up.
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3. Think Warm thoughts
Our minds need to adapt, just as much as our bodies do. Think of the cold as just something that happens and we deal with it. As long as your as dressed properly and have the right attitude, you can handle it. Experts say to dress in layers. Try gradually lowering the thermostat in anticipation of a cold blast and adding layers. And it can’t hurt to think warm thoughts, maybe crank up some summer jams.
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4. Cuddle
It’s true…cuddles and snuggles can really keep you warm. “Each of us produces heat through our metabolic processes. We lose our heat to the environment as we maintain body temperature,” according to Professor Smith. He added “Increasing skin contact decreases opportunities for the heat to be lost to the environment around us. If two people are under a blanket both of their heat losses combined can increase the temperature under the blanket more quickly than either could do independently.” Pet cuddles are just as good as human ones.
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5. Delight in warm beverages and foods, and use the oven and stove to cook them
Here’s your time to splurge. Foods higher in fat and protein can make you feel warmer, because they metabolize slower in your body. As Smith told CNN, “Consider hearty soups with beans and meat.” Using your oven and stove and slow cookers can help heat your kitchen too. But it’s never a good idea to use them as heat, obviously.
7. Allow air to flow in your home
Move anything that’s blocking heat vents or radiators. The heat will better circulate throughout your home that way. Pull couches and any other furniture away from your heat vents.
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8. Adjust your curtains and shades
If the sun is out, open your curtains and shades and let the sun bring some warmth into your home. If it’s cloudy, close them to keep heat in.
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Light a fire in your fire place or sit near heating vents
Find the warm spots and hunker down there for a while.
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12. Make popcorn or s'mores
Making popcorn or s’mores gives us all the warm, cozy feels
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15. Call your family or a friend
Honestly, when was the last time you had a good phone conversation? Call your mother. Grab an old friend contact in your phone and push play.
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16. Play games
Hide and Seek, Twister, Simon Says…just a few games to generate heat. Keeping entertained inside, when it’s too cold outside, is key. And if you have kids, it’ll keep them engaged with you.
(Photo illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
