When the ice and snow start to pile on your house and the roads this season, it’s easy to become depressed. Most people long to hole up in their home under mountains of blankets until the sun appears again. But what happens when your house and car are cold, too? Let’s look at some ways to keep every part of your life warm this winter, so you can actually enjoy the wintry scenery instead!
Start With the Home
If you have windows that aren’t sealed all the way and leak in some of that cold air, seal them with a window insulator kit. They are quite drafty in the winter time, so we rely on the window kits to keep us toasty and save us money on our electric bill.
For those with a flexible budget or the fortune of renting from a top-notch landlord, consider radiant floor heating. This type of heating changes the normal flow of rising heat by evenly distributing (hence ‘radiant’) it throughout homes.
In extremely cold temperatures, it’s also better to keep your thermostat set at a consistent temperature than to crank up the heat. It becomes too hard for your furnace to keep up. It can not only be costly, but it can cause wear and tear on your furnace. Wear layers while you’re home and avoid turning the heat up.
Bundle Up!
This winter has been especially brutal across the United States. No matter where you live, the best way to brave the cold is to wear lots of warm layers. Wear heavy socks that go up to your calves and shoes that stay dry. It’s also a good idea to treat your boots with water-repellent spray to keep them dry in the cold, wet weather.
Keep your feet, hands and head covered. I recommend the fleece headbands that cover your ears, texting gloves and long scarves you can wrap around more than once. The added layers of the scarf will help keep your neck and face warm.
Automatic Car Starter
This is a must for the winter — a car starter is a luxury that pays for itself! Mine is set to run for 10 minutes and then shuts off automatically. This way, if it’s super cold I can let it run and then after 10 minutes I can easily start it up again. When I get out of my car, I make sure to leave the setting on top heat, defrost on rear window and windshield. If you’re not the type to run outside to brace the cold, start your car and then return to your morning routine, consider driving to work in warmth with an automatic car starter.
Leave the Cold Completely
Take a vacation before the holidays somewhere warm with the family. If you have a job that slows down over the holidays, this idea could work perfectly. Read Skipping Christmas if you need some ideas or inspiration for a getaway. When you go back to work and your skin is glowing tan, your co-workers will probably start contemplating their future holiday plans!
For those with pools, there are common Winter problems that may arise due to negligence. For starters, make sure you have a quality pool cover and proper draining. By lacking in coverage and/or drainage, pipes are likely to freeze over and break.
Some other forgetful areas are:
- specialty gardens
- outdoor equipment
- awnings
- garage windows
- patio/decks
With enough snow and low enough temperatures, many of these things can freeze over, break, and cause serious damage to your wallet.
Handy Tips
Carry hand warmers and feet warmers with you, because you never know when your feet will catch a draft in the office. They last for hours and provide the ultimate heating experience. For men (if able), growing a beard may be the perfect winter solution. It’s a nice look, and it can double as a face warmer.
Drink warm beverages to warm you inside and out. Starbucks is always a good place to start — something is bound to spark your interest. Cut back on the alcohol, since the way alcohol metabolizes in your body can make you colder on those already chilly nights. Invest in a good blanket at home, and snuggle in front of the fire. Enjoy the beautiful wintry scenery from the warm comforts of your couch.