Five Ways to Beat the Cold Without Turning Up the Heat

It’s 33 degrees (Fahrenheit) in Portland, Oregon as I write this, and we’re actually on the warm end of a week-long, record-setting, face-freezing cold spell. It’s been a great opportunity to develop our skills in keeping warm without turning the heat up and using more than our share of energy. Our normal thermostat setting is 68, so it doesn’t get terribly cold in here, but some rooms do get colder than others.  Here are five methods for keeping warm; I’ve tried them all this week.

Wear Wool
Wool happens to be a natural fiber and the best thing to wear in cold weather. It keeps you warm, insulates even if it gets wet, and stays clean and odor-free even without daily washing.  I generally wear wool socks and a wool sweater indoors and out, and add a wool hat and coat for outdoors. I’d like to have wool or wool/silk long johns for everyone, but those are more expensive. The kids wear wool tights.

Bake Cookies
A hot oven warms everyone, and a good dinner or sweet treats will warm your bellies, too. Don’t forget some hot cocoa, tea, or coffee to go with your goodies.

Snuggle Up
Body heat works. In fact, in an emergency, it’s recommended for hypothermia. At home, snuggle under a blanket with your sweetie or a child or two, and you’ll warm right up. Add a cat or dog in your lap if desired.

Dance It Out

“He played the Highland Fling, and Irish jigs, and out on the clickety-clattering floor Laura and Carrie danced till their breath was gone.” — The Long Winter, Laura Ingalls Wilder

OK, for us it’s more likely to be High School Musical or songs from Glee, but dancing warms us up just as well as it did Laura and Carrie (incidentally, my youngest is putting on a dress and sunbonnet this very minute).

Use a Computer
Computers generate heat, and are very capable of overheating. That’s why a room full of computers that are on all the time will generally have air conditioning, sometimes even in the middle of winter. So if you’re cold, snuggle your feet right up to that tower on the floor, or curl up with your laptop, and catch up on your Facebook relationships.

I won’t say that we never turn up the heat. But it’s a good plan to try other options first – especially if you can have fun with it!

Photo by Colby Gutierrez-Kraybill, http://www.flickr.com/photos/cgk/ / CC BY 2.0