Although winters are getting warmer (and wetter), the cost of living is rising and staying warm is becoming more and more difficult. For many of us, staying warm can be an inconvenience, but its not out of our reach. However, for some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, staying warm is one of the most difficult things to do, and could mean choosing between being cold or being hungry.
Here are five simple tips that can help people stay warm during the coldest times of the year. If you know someone that might be vulnerable and could struggle to stay warm, make sure to share these tips with them, and help them utilise them.
Keep moving
A little movement throughout the day is a great way to stay warm and keep your strength and mobility up. This can be as simple as walking around your house or standing up and sitting down a few times. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to staying active, so it’s important to choose movements that feel comfortable and safe for you. A good goal is to try not to sit for more than an hour at a time. Moving regularly also makes it easier to incorporate some of the other helpful tips while staying active.
Eat well to keep warm
It can sometimes be difficult to keep up the motivation to prepare meals and eat, especially in the cold. But you should aim to stick to a routine, eat warm foods (such as soups, stews or spicey food) and drink hot drinks.
The aim should be at least one hot meal a day and as many hot drinks as possible. Having a flask of tea, or soup, made up in the morning can be a great way to ensure there is something hot to consume when needed.
Something else to consider, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables each day will be beneficial to overall health and wellbeing, allowing the body to be in a better position to keep warm and fight off illnesses.
Frozen and tinned fruits and vegetables can be just as nutritious as fresh. These are also much cheaper and easier to store, so consider this when doing the food shop.
Wrap up warm
Wrapping up well, using jumpers, hats, scarves and blankets can help you stay warm throughout the colder months.
Wearing several thin layers will keep you warmer than wearing one thick layer, as the layers trap warm air between them. Also ensure that your head, hands and feet are covered, using hats, socks and gloves, as these are areas that lose the most heat. If you’re heading out, make sure you take some extra layers – even if you don’t need them immediately. It’s a good idea to be prepared because the temperature can drop significantly when the sun goes down.
Make sure to wrap up warm to go to bed. Wearing warm nightwear, thick socks and slippers, can help you stay warm overnight. This is incredibly important because the cold temperatures can disrupt sleep, meaning it can be harder to function properly the following day, and makes staying warm that much harder.
Prioritise Heating Key Areas in Your Home
If putting the heating on is a major concern because of the cost, prioritising only heating the rooms you spend the most time in is a great way to keep the heating bills lower. Focus on heating the most important areas of your home, such as the living room and bedroom, where you spend the most time. It’s more efficient to heat one room well than to try to heat the entire house. If there are rooms you don’t use, like a spare bedroom, have the radiators turned off in that room and close the doors. This will help you save on energy costs whilst keeping warm.
If your heating system is not working throughout, consider using a space heater in the room you spend the most time in. Ensure that any heater used is safe and positioned away from flammable materials.
Use a Hot Water Bottle
Using hot water bottles is a cost-effective way to stay warm, especially if you put them under blankets or duvets to keep you warm whilst you’re sleeping. In addition to keeping you warm they are also great for overall well-being, helping increase relaxation, relieve stress, and ease muscle tension, aches and pains.
Hot water bottles should never be placed directly on the skin. A cover must be used to help prevent burns whilst also insulating the bottle, so it stays warm for longer and make sure to never use a hot water bottle with an electric blanket.
These simple steps will help to keep the cold at bay and help to fight off many of the illnesses that circulate this time of year. Please ensure you are checking in on the most vulnerable people in your family and community, many of the things most of us take for granted can be a significant concern for them, and your help could mean the world to them.
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Author: Mark Harvey
(c) HSQE Ltd 24/01/25