The Neurocycle: Day 37 of 63

Staying Warm

In many places north of the Tropic of Cancer it is already cold, getting cold, about to get cold, or some combination thereof. The best and most obvious way to beat the cold is to be in a location that’s warm…but that isn’t always possible, and often folks want to get outside and do something anyway. So here are the best ways I’ve learned for staying warm in the cold.

1. Stay Dry. This is a basic one but still important. Getting wet or damp will cause you to lose heat many times faster than if you’d stayed dry. Often when you’re active you’ll sweat and/or produce condensate, even when cold. Fabrics that are water resistant, breathable, and warm you despite dampness are critical in this regard. Which brings me to the next one…
2. Cotton Kills. Don’t wear cotton or cotton blends if you’re planning to be out in the cold and damp. This includes underclothes. Find wool and/or synthetic clothes to wear in the cold…they can get damp and still keep you warm, unlike cotton. Once cotton is even a little wet (slight condensation from your body can do this), it’s all over; the cotton will hemorrhage warmth from you until it’s either bone-dry or removed.
3. Keep Moving. The thing that makes you warm is your metabolism and blood circulation. The more your heart beats and your muscles move, the warmer you will feel and be. There is one condition where you may want to stay still, however…
4. Stay Out Of The Wind. If the wind is howling, find shelter if you can and hunker down. There’s a reason weather sites report the wind chill factor…it really does make a difference.
5. Layers. Nineteen times out of twenty, when I’m too hot or too cold I would have been better off dressing in layers, especially when I’m too cold. Where I live, in the winter it’s good to have three: a base layer, a warmth layer, and a rain shell.
6. Heat From Within. Bring a thermos or container of hot tea, coffee, cocoa or even just hot water. This has been shown to be the most effective way of warming up a cold body. Avoid alcohol as it doesn’t really warm; in fact it just brings blood vessels to your skin surface cooling you down even quicker.
7. Head, Hands, Feet. From my experience, if my head, hands, and feet are warm it isn’t difficult to keep the rest of me warm…if any of those are cold it can be quite difficult to warm up. Invest in good socks/footwear, good gloves/mittens, and good hats/headwear.

Here endeth the lesson on staying warm.