Us San Diegans are lucky to live where we do. While the Mid West is dealing with their "Polar Vortex," we've had sun, rain, and generally warm weather. However, if you're like me, when it drops below 65 you immediately start to feel chilly and it's difficult to warm back up again. My usual trick (when I'm at home) is to bake; the oven heats up the whole house and we get delicious treats in the process. However, what can we do to stay warm in less-than-ideal weather, when it's impossible to avoid going outside?
When our bodies start to get cold, our brain immediately tells our blood vessels to constrict in certain parts of the body, like the hands and feet, since they're furthest away from the heart and it decreases the likelihood of "cold blood" being pumped back to the heart. That's why our hands and feet tend to get cold the quickest. Our bodies go into a survival mode, protecting vital organs at all cost. So, what can we do to avoid the dreaded icicle hands? Here's some curated tips:
1. Avoid standing or sitting still for too long.
Decreasing your movement in general is a really good way to get cold quick. If you're waiting in line for your favorite coffee, or just waiting for the trolley, it's important to do some sort of activity to keep yourself from getting cold. That can be as easy as jogging in place, or putting your hands in your pockets to warm up against your skin. If your office building tends to be on the chilly side, get up and walk around regularly to increase circulation to your feet, and do hand exercises to increase the blood flow there. I find my hands get warmer when I start to type, since they're moving more frequently.2. Stay hydrated!
This is important 24/7, 365 days a year. Your body needs proper hydration in order to work efficiently and keep you warm! Water is an excellent conductor of heat and does your body a world of good. While drinking hot cocoa or coffee all day sounds inviting and comforting, it's important to give your body what it really needs- water. Ideally, drink your water at room temp or a little warmer so as to not cool you down too much and help the liquid absorb better. If you're really bad about drinking enough water, set a timer for yourself or use this cool water bottle to remind you when to drink water: |
| You can buy a water bottle with this already printed on it, or simply do it yourself with sharpie and your favorite water bottle! |
3. Layer properly.
When it starts to get chilly outside, it's important to layer properly to help keep heat in. Experts say the best way to layer is this:-start off with a thin, breathable layer made of synthetic material to wick moisture away from the skin. This should be form fitting as well.
-move on to an insulating layer, ideally made of wool, to help keep warmth in without absorbing moisture. If you can help it, wear something that zips or buttons to avoid overheating.
-if you're outside in less-than-ideal weather, wear a weatherproof layer (think windbreaker) to keep the wind chill and water away from your other layers.
If you work in an office environment and can't really do the "Mountain Man" look, thermal underwear are fantastic for keeping in heat without making you look bulky. Make sure they fit well too! Ladies, switch out your regular tights for fleece tights and leggings. You can wear these with skirts and dresses, if you absolutely can't avoid it, or even under your slacks. They're inexpensive and will last you for years.
Switch out your socks for wool socks, and wear boots or closed-toe shoes to help keep the heat in. A really neat trick to keep your toes warm is to pre-warm your shoes and socks by placing them near a space heater or radiator. You can do this with all your clothing, if you want!
4. Increase your circulation.
There are many ways to do this, such as with exercise, but if you're not an exercise person or simply can't get out you can use massage.Massage is a great way to increase circulation since working the muscles helps to increase blood flow and boost your metabolism. If I'm at home and don't feel like baking, but need to warm up, I usually massage my feet to bring warmth back to my toes and enjoy the benefits of massage in general!
It may seem counter-intuitive to take off layers for a massage in order to get warm, but speaking from first hand experience, some people get really warm once you start getting the massage. Also, using heat-conducting products (like Cryoderm) have a warming sensation on the skin. This not only helps the muscles to relax, but helps you feel warmer overall.
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It's important to keep our bodies warm so they can function properly. When our body temperatures decrease, it causes us to feel sluggish and tired, and reaching a body temperature of 95° can lead to hypothermia. While it doesn't typically get cold enough to reach that phase here in San Diego, it's important to know just how cold is too cold and ways you can heat yourself up quickly. Hopefully this article gave you some great pointers you can use every day to stay warm and dry!
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