It’s March and cold here in the northern hemisphere. Here in southeast Idaho, we have had our share of warmer winter days with highs in the mid to upper 30s. Those of us with bees enjoy watching our ladies take cleansing flight on those warmer winter days. We dream of pollen and flowers that seem sure to be just around the proverbial corner of winter. Then 2nd winter hits us. Gone are our warm days. We are plunged back into cold temperatures with snow and ice and grey cloudy days. Sigh. Does this sound familiar? Wondering how to stay warm this winter? Here are five simple ways to stay warm during the winter.
My five favorite and simple ways to stay warm in the winter
My favorite things ways to stay warm during the chilly months of winter:
- Dress in layers.
- It’s pretty common knowledge that you should add a sweater, jacket, and other layers when going outside in cold weather. You can apply the same principles to staying warm inside too. Layers insulate your body, keeping you warmer and making it easier to regulate your body temperature. You may always remove or add layers as needed to stay comfortable. Pro tip: to save money on heating bills, turn down your thermostat and utilize the principle of dressing in layers indoors.
- Wear thick socks or slippers.
- Did you know keeping your feet warm will make your whole body feel warmer? In the cold months, I love wearing wool socks. My favorite pair are from Nordic Socks. They keep my feet nice and toasty. If my feet feel cold, I just slip them into my fleece-lined slippers. This keeps my feet warm and toasty when I walk across the cold hardwood and tile flooring in my home.
- Use the Oven and Stove for Cooking.
- It’s understandable to not cook much in the summer when the temperatures are warmer. But during the cooler winter months, the opposite applies. Use your stove and oven often to add heat to your home in the winter. Another easy way to do this: after you have used your oven, turn it off, but leave the door open. The heat will continue escaping and add warmth to the room. If you have small children or pets, be sure they can’t reach the hot oven door or climb inside the oven. Make sure not to use the oven as a primary heat source, especially if it is gas. Burning natural gas for long periods can increase the carbon monoxide levels in your home.
- Eat and drink warm foods and beverages.
- Besides warming up your space, preparing hot meals will also warm you up from the inside. Opt for easy hot meals such as soup on cold days and consider making it from scratch. The time it takes for the soup to simmer will allow the pot to generate heat, warming your kitchen. Here is one of my family’s favorite quick soups for cold weather.
- Hot drinks like tea and hot chocolate are a favorite go-to in our home for warming up on cold days. Nothing is like warming up from the inside with a nice cup of hot cocoa. The liquid will feel toasty as it goes down and a hot mug helps to keep hands warm.
- Spend more time upstairs.
- Heat rises. If you have multiple levels in your home, you may want to spend more time upstairs taking advantage of the warmer air. Some days we move our study setting to our TV room on the second floor to take advantage of the heat.
Simple Tips to heat your home so you stay warm in the winter
While the above ways to stay warm in the winter are well and good, here are some additional tips.
If you are home during the day, perhaps these tips on how to stay warm at home during the day will help without breaking the bank:
- Heat only the rooms you use during the day. It makes sense that if you are in a room, there is really no need to heat it to a comfortable temperature. Keeping unused rooms around 61° will save you a bundle on your home heating costs.
- If you can’t heat all the rooms you use during the day, heat the room your family spends the most time in during the day. Keep this room between 64 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the rest of the rooms around 61 degrees Fahrenheit. Then heat your bedroom/s before going to bed. This will ensure that you make the most efficient use of your heating resources.
- Use space heaters to heat smaller areas you are using. Not all space heaters are created equal, so be sure it is in good working order, and never leave it turned on if you are leaving the room for an extended period of time.
- Set a timer on your heating to come on before you get up and turn off when you go to bed. There are many benefits to setting a timer:
- Energy Efficiency: Lowering the temperature at night reduces the workload on your heating system, leading to lower energy consumption and potentially lower utility bills. Since you’re typically bundled up in blankets while sleeping, you don’t need as much heating to maintain a comfortable temperature.
- Better Sleep: Many people find that a cooler sleeping environment is conducive to better sleep. The body’s natural temperature drops slightly as you fall asleep, so sleeping in a cooler room may help facilitate this process.
- Health Benefits: Some studies suggest that sleeping in a cooler environment can improve overall sleep quality and may have additional health benefits, such as boosting metabolism and reducing the risk of certain diseases.
- Environmental Impact: Using less energy for heating reduces your carbon footprint and contributes to environmental conservation efforts.
- Preservation of Furnace Life: Giving your heating system a break during the night by turning down the heat can prolong its lifespan and reduce the need for repairs or replacements.
- In very cold weather, set your timer to heat earlier instead of turning the thermostat up so you don’t get cold while you wait for your home to heat up
- Reverse your ceiling fan so it moves in a clockwise direction during the winter months. Keep it on low speed to help disperse the heat by pushing the warm air near the ceiling back toward the floor level.
- Clear heat vents, registers, and radiators of extra items and furniture in the cooler months to ensure the heat is able to easily circulate.
- Wear clothes made of wool or fleecy synthetic fibers to trap your body’s heat. Cotton only works if the clothing stays dry.
Tips to staying warm at night while home:
- Keep the temperature above 65° in your bedroom
- Open the window or door a little at night for ventilation if you use a fire or heater in your bedroom
- Use microwavable heating pads to add heat to your bed. Warming up the foot of your bed can make you feel substantially warmer during a chilly night. You can even use these while you are watching TV or working. If you are crafty, you can even make one yourself by sewing dried beans or rice inside a piece of 100% cotton fabric. Just microwave in 30-second increments until it is at your desired temperature (these make great gifts and stocking stuffers too!).
- Wear bed socks or thermal underwear to bed for an added layer of insulation against the cold.
- Use an electric blanket
- Avoid using a hot water bottle with the electric blanket to prevent the risk of being electrocuted
- Check what type of electric blanket it is–some are designed to only warm the bed before you get in and should not be used throughout the night.
Tips to checking your heating units
Safe heating units are key during the heating season. A few easy ways to make sure your units are safe are:
- Make sure your heating is working well and your home or workspace is properly ventilated to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Replace your furnace filter. This will save wear and tear on your heating unit and allow your furnace to run more efficiently. Furnace filters should be replaced every 90 days during the regular season and every 30-90 days during the heating season. This is because you use your furnace more in the winter and it can become dirty more quickly. To learn how to replace a furnace filter, click here.
- Check all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they are working properly. To do this, push the test button on the unit (found on the front of the unit). If it is working properly, it will beep loudly. We check ours on the first of every month to make sure they are working. Change the batteries on these units regularly to ensure proper function. I recommend changing them twice a year when you change the clocks for Daylight Savings time. Also, if it’s been a while since you replaced your smoke or carbon monoxide detectors, check the expiration date (usually printed on the back of the unit). They expire every 10 years.
- Check the cords and plugs on all electric heating units to ensure they are not frayed and in good working order.
Following the tips above are sure to help you stay warm and keep that heating bill tamed this winter. Do you do other things not listed here to stay warm? Let us know!
