By Lucy Corkhill
10th December 2013
Hot water bottles – whoever invented these gets the thumbs up round our place. On really cold days, I tuck one up my jumper and couldn’t care less if I look like I’m six months pregnant – it’s such a cosy feeling! Use them to warm beds before getting in and seats before sitting in them.
Vigorous exercise – the number one way to get the blood pumping and remove a shivery chill. Put some loud music on and have a dance. Jump on the spot, or get a trampette to bounce around on (I use one when I’m working on the computer – whenever I feel cold I put a track on and bounce until it’s finished. It really works!).
Cold showers – okay, perhaps not the first thing you want to do when it’s bitterly cold but turning the shower to cold helps tune your body’s thermostat and actually warms you up in the long run. You’ll feel energised and invigorated and ready to take on the day.
Wool blankets – check out your local charity shop for proper wool blankets. We got ours at jumble sales crazily cheap. These make the world of difference when used as an extra covering on the bed, and mean you don’t have to fork out on a winter duvet. You’ll notice the difference between an ordinary or synthetic fibre blanket and a proper wool one – sheep know how to keep cosy on windswept hills!
Thick socks – if you can’t sleep at night because of the chill, get some thick socks on. Research shows that if your feet are warm, you’re more likely to drop off into a relaxed sleep. Slippers with proper soles also help in the daytime.
Ginger tea – warming drinks feel great in winter and provide us with an inner furnace. Ginger tea tops the list of the most warming drinks – grate some fresh ginger into a mug, pour over hot water and add honey to taste. Leave to steep for five minutes or so.
Saunas – many local swimming baths offer a cheap sauna offer in the winter. If you feel like your bones and muscles are aching because of hunching over against the cold, indulge yourself with a warming sauna. You’ll feel your muscles relax and a sense of release as your body lets go of winter tension.
Visit an indoor space like the library – if your heating bills make you shudder, consider days out where someone else picks up the heating bill. Cafes, museums and libraries are all places to escape to on really cold days when you don’t want to be forking out to be at home all day.
Thermal underwear – who said thermals were just for grannies? I rely on my thermals to get me through a winter and they now come in attractive styles. They offer a lovely cosy feeling underneath your clothes – the only downside is peeling them off at the end of the day!
Use your pets! – if you have pets, consider them as free hot water bottles. Cosy up together on the sofa or coax a cat on to your lap for extra warmth of an evening.
Seal off rooms not in use – we tend to use one room in winter for most of our activity. Hang heavy curtains in doorways and seal off any rooms not in use to maximise the heat in one room. Turn off heating in unused rooms to save money, and consider bedroom-sharing throughout the winter so that you only have to heat one bedroom.
Get draught excluders – if you don’t have any, use rolled up towels or old jumpers to stop up draughts around windows and under doors. Draught excluders are easy to make from newspaper and old tights, or if you’re feeling crafty, you might like to sew a sausage dog or two.
Wear several layers, including a roll neck – keeping the chest and neck warm gives an instant sense of cosiness. Roll necks are great for this – I picked up several in charity shops and while I may look like a 70s throwback, they really make a difference. Layer up with lots of long-sleeved tops and jumpers – birds use this strategy in winter when they fluff up their feathers: hot air is trapped between the layers.
Put rugs down – cover the floor to avoid draughts at this level. Rag rugs can be made from second-hand clothes. Rugs feel comforting underfoot too. Victorians wouldn’t be without their rugs to keep a home cosy without central heating.
Make your own ‘double-glazing’ – we have ancient windows that let draughts in at every corner particularly when a northerly is blowing in. It is possible to buy temporary double glazing that is sealed over the windows in the winter but we went for a far cheaper option this year and used clear shower curtains, with batons to secure them in place. They let light and warmth in during the day but stop draughts blowing in. Not the most attractive addition to the house but if you don’t want to fork out on double glazing, or your house is ancient like ours, they help to keep things cosy.
