5 Ways to Keep Warm This Winter #AFrostyDebate

I don’t know about you but I am really starting to feel the drop in temperature as we head further into November. I actually love winter; waking up to crisp, frosty mornings to head out into with the dogs and the potential for festive snow, but when it comes to relaxing in my house I prefer to be cosy and warm (who doesn’t?) although I’d rather not have my heating running all day!

How do you stay warm in the winter? According to a survey from Regatta, the majority of people stay toasty the old fashioned ways, with over three quarters (77.4%) saying they just layer up and more than two out of three people (65.4%) opting for hats, gloves and scarves to keep warm.

If, like me, you like to be warm but don’t want the expense of huge heating bills check out these 5 ways of keeping warm that won’t break the bank.

1. Layer Up

When I was at University I lived with a friend of mine in a house share with 2 other people. Now these other people spent most of their time wearing thin pajamas when they were home and in the winter we were constantly turning off the heating which they wanted on 24/7 without thinking of the bills whereas my friend and I would snuggle up in layers of jumpers to keep warm!

This is an easy one and like I said, three-quarters of us will wrap up to keep warm when the temperature takes a nose dive. Layer up with clothes to keep yourself warm. Put on that long underwear your granny got you last Christmas, slip a sweater or cardigan over your shirt and consider wearing a hat and gloves indoors. If you find wearing gloves inside irritates your skin be sure to check out these great autumn handcare tips. If you overheat easily then try lots of thin layers. I recommend trying a “wicking” polyester (or silk) undershirt next to your skin instead of cotton for a more comfortable way to keep the cold at bay.

Some of the best fabrics to don for warmth are:

• Wool
• Silk
• Flannel
• Fleece

2. Banish Drafts

You’ve just snuggled down in your cosy cardigan on the sofa ready for a warm evening watching TV when you suddenly get a blast of cold air which has snuck in through a gap under the door or from around the window. Brr! Banish drafts with some simple tricks like using a draft excluder (or make your own from a rolled-up blanket or towel) at the bottom of doors, use fabric scraps to make draft blockers for around windows or reach for the use caulk to seal up holes around pipes or electric sockets.

If your home has older single-pane windows or an unsealed door, warm air is probably seeping out into the cold outdoors and letting cold air sneak in to replace it. Check for drafts by looking for light coming in around doors, windows, or outlets. On a windy or particularly cold day, those poorly sealed areas let in cold air you can feel.

3. Cook up a storm

“A salad please” – said no-one ever in winter! We tend to crave warming foods when the weather turns colder. The good news is that winter meals usually require a fair amount of cooking or baking and having your oven or stove running also warms up your home as the heat travels to other areas of your space. A slow cooker makes for a great easy to use cooking tool at this time of year, you can cook up classic winter meals like soup and chilli with minimal prep time and cleanup.

Don’t afraid to be a typical Brit when you’re cold and grab a cuppa! In addition to hot meals, you can warm yourself from the inside with hot drinks. Choose from coffee, tea, hot chocolate or treat yourself to something festive like a warm spiced cider (why not? you only live once!) The drink will feel toasty going down and the hot mug doubles as a hand warmer. In the Regatta survey, 38% opted for a cup of tea as their winter warmer whereas coffee came out at 38.50%.

4. Stay Active

It might be hard to think about going outside when it’s cold outside, but getting active is a great way to get warm. When you exercise, you break a sweat, burn fat, and build muscle. You also increase your body temperature thanks to your body’s metabolic response. There are lots of great ways to keep fit during winter such as hiking, walking and ice skating but not all of them involve getting outside.

Why not try an online workout routine and dabble with yoga, pilates or zumba? Dancing is another great way of keeping warm and getting fit! If that sounds a little bit too much like hard work (and I don’t blame you) try something simple like cleaning the house! Not only will you get the chores done, but you’ll also warm up as you move around. Bonus!

Window Watch

We touched upon drafts coming from windows earlier and they can play a big part in keeping your home cosy during the cold. Be sure to open the curtains on the sunny side of your house during the day which will allow the heat from the sun to help warm your home. Close them before sunset to trap the heat indoors and shut out the nighttime chill.

If you have a particularly nasty draft coming from your window you can seal them with plastic insulation kits which are not difficult to put on (you just need a blow dryer) and they form a barrier to prevents drafts and heat-loss through window panes keeping you toasty. Your choice of curtains also makes a difference; use insulated curtains or add thermal liners to the curtains you already have to keep in the heat.

How do you usually keep warm in winter? Do you reach for a cup of tea?

Check out Regatta’s infographic for more results of their survey.