According to areavibes.com, the average New Berlin weather forecast in February is 23°F. Since December 21st marks the first day of winter, winter is now currently among us. With the drop in temperatures, the weather is only going to get colder bringing in snow, sleet, slippery ice, freezing rain, and bitter wind. So, whether you are spending the day sledding outside or at home sick, these tips will help you to warm up during this chilly season:  

1.) Layer up.

Your body can retain more heat by wearing more clothes, so you should wear at least three layers of clothes if you are spending time outside during the winter. Live Science says, “you lose heat through conduction whenever your body comes into direct contact with something cold, like when you sit on chilly ground. Wind steals your body heat through convection.” The first layer you should put on should be an under-layer that fits your body well, such as a t-shirt, long-sleeved shirt, and or  leggings. Then, you want to put on a fleece or wool long sweatshirt that also fits your body well, but not too tightly. Finally, put on a winter jacket that fits over all of the previous layer you put on before but still fits around your body securely in order to keep more warmth closer to your body. Don’t forget to wear and bring along a warm, insulated hat, scarf, gloves, thick socks, and winter boots.

2.) Move around and soak up the sun.

According to The Greatist, staying active in the winter will “raise your heart rate, get your blood pumping, and raise your core temperature.” Staying active is important for warming your body up during this cold season. During winter time, it also gets darker earlier and the days get shorter. Because of this, some people tend to feel not as lively or elated as they usually are due to lack of exposure to sunlight. Even though most people do not spend as much time outside in the winter, it is still crucial to soak up some vitamin D in order to keep a positive mindset. If it is sunny outside, you can open up the curtains in your house to bring in more sunlight and warm it up more, too.

3.) Invite friends over to your house.

The more people that are in the same room as you, the warmer that room will be. Even if you are cold, your body will radiate off heat, especially when there are a lot of people around. You also breathe out carbon dioxide, and because many people are breathing at the same time when in the same room, it can get more humid, too.

4.) Eat hot foods and drink warm beverages.

If your body temperature is lower than the temperature of your food or beverage, then you are adding more heat to your body. “Eating extra healthy fats during the winter can help rev up metabolism, which in turn heats the body,” NBC4 Washington said. Drinking hot liquids can increase how warm your body feels on the inside out, too. According to HuffPost, in order to warm up you can also eat spicy or hot foods because they cause you to sweat. You can also try eating carbs and brown rice because they are harder for your body to digest, which can in turn make your body feel warmer.

5.) Warm up with a heated/electric blanket or a heated mattress pad.

Heated blankets warm up very quickly once they are plugged into the wall. Although they are pricey, heated blankets are a good investment because they last for a long time and are warmer than a blanket that isn’t heated. They are also very versatile because you can use them in your living room on the couch or in your bedroom on your bed to sleep. Heated mattress pads stay on your bed at all times, it’s like a fitted sheet that goes over your mattress before the other bed sheets and comforter are placed on your bed, but will warm you up just as quickly as a heated blanket as well.

6.) Use hand warmers or bed buddies.

Buying hand warmers are great for keeping warm on-the-go, especially if you are spending the day outside in the cold winter. Placing these hand warmers in the pockets of your jacket or sweatshirt will heat up your hands moderately, avoid frostbite, and provide more warmth to the rest of your body. If you are spending the day at home, you can use bed buddies which are hot and cold packs filled with rice, which can also warm up your hands and the rest of your body gradually. Because you need to use the microwave to warm up bed buddies, they are used at home more instead of when you’re out and about.

7.) Layer your bed sheets.

You should use thicker bed sheets in the winter, and if it is really cold, consider buying flannel, wool, or fleece bedding. Instead of using only one thick blanket or comforter, you should arrange your bed sheets in multiple layers. According to Homes to Love, “layering [your bed sheets] is the best way to beat the cold” because you can always add or remove covers depending on how warm or cold you are. Layering your covers from the bottom up will help you feel the warmest and coziest. The thinnest layer should be closest to your body, and the the thickest cover should be the last layer you place on your bed.

8.) Stay warm by cooking and baking.

Since stoves and ovens get very hot when you cook or bake, the warm heat projects through the oven vents and will then circulate around the kitchen. This can make your house feel a warmer, but you can also stand near a stove or an oven to receive more of the heat that it’s projecting if you’re cold.

9.) Do the laundry.

Doing the laundry not only cleans our clothes, but can also warms us up. When you take out your now clean clothes from the dryer, your clothes feel soft and warm. You can then put on the clothes that just came out of the warm dryer in order to feel warmer. This is because when we put our clothes in the dryer to be dried, warm air circulates around the clothes that are rotating and spinning around in the dryer. Like using a stove or an oven, doing the laundry can also help heat up the room the dryer is located, too.

10.) Stay hydrated.

According to Active, in winter, “the air you breathe is drier, and your lungs have to work harder to humidify that air and warm it up.” If you are being particularly active on a winter day, drink beverages that are room temperature. “Cold liquids are absorbed quicker. Warmer or room temperature drinks, on the other hand, are better at keeping your internal temperature optimal,” Active said. If you are exercising in the cold for over an hour, though, drink a beverage that has electrolytes because your body cannot rehydrate itself with just water.

11.) Cuddle with your pets.

Psychology Today states that pets, just like humans, can suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder which includes “lethargy, depression, social withdrawal, fatigue…” especially in the winter months when there is not as much sunshine. This could be a reason why your pet is always laying around the house sleeping. Likewise, though, dogs are generally warmer than humans. Their fur protects their skin them from the cold, but unlike us, they cannot wrap themselves up in a blanket when they do get cold. This is why they are always up to cuddle with their owners; they rely on us to not only keep them warm by cuddling under a blanket with them but they also seek affection from us when we pet them, too.

12.) Take a hot bath.

Taking a bath is one of the best things to do when you are cold. Bathing regulates your body temperature quickly, according to Lifehack. If you have a bad cold in the winter, taking a bath can also help clear out your sinuses and make it easier to breathe. Among many other things, Daily Mail said that bathing can “reduce stress, improve sleep, strengthen blood circulation, boost the immune system and detoxify the body.”