Working from home? Stay warm with the help of these tips.
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Reduce Drafts
Do a quick assessment and see if there are ways to keep cold air out. Add insulated sealers to electrical outlets. Check out these draft stoppers for windows and this guide to draft stoppers beneath a door.
Turn On Your Ceiling Fan
Ceiling fans may be best known for keeping you cool in the summer, but they can also help you stay more comfortable in the winter. To circulate and push down warm air, reverse the direction of your fan. Look for a switch on the motor housing. In winter, fan blades should be rotating clockwise.
If you’re in the market for a ceiling fan, here’s our buying guide and instructions on how to install one.
Purchase a Space Heater
Space heaters come in all shapes and sizes to fit just about any budget. But be careful. Don’t plug space heaters into extension cords or power strips, which can overheat, and don’t use the same outlet as your computer, modem and other essential electronics. Be sure to follow safety recommendations and turn heaters off when you leave the room.
Here’s our guide to space heaters for every room.
Add Soft Furnishings
Look for insulating window blinds and thermal curtains to reduce drafts and help keep rooms warmer. Add rugs to make the floor less chilly and keep a throw or lap blanket near your desk chair.
Warm Your Chair
Take inspiration from automobile seat warmers and plug in a heating pad you might already have. Put it on your chair to take the edge off an early morning chill, tuck it behind your back or rest it on your lap. You can also find heating pads that wrap around your neck and drape over your shoulders.
Heat Your Feet
No one sees your feet when you work from home, so indulge in a pair of cushioned wool hiking socks (wool is worth the higher price) and warm shoes or slippers. An outdoor trick you can bring indoors: Put air-activated foot warmers in your shoes on the coldest days.
Dress with Base Layers
Layer up wisely with body-hugging soft base layers beneath your shirts and pants to hold the heat and wick any sweat that can create a chill. Invest in a few pair of leggings and undershirts that can be rotated during the work week.
Choose a Warm Hat and Scarf
Your mother was right! We lose most of our body heat through our heads, so covering up can do wonders. Seek stylish hat options from lightweight beanies to berets and wool fedoras. Scarves, too, can be colorful and help retain warmth.
Try a Wearable Blanket
If you’re someone who’s always cold and loves cushy blankets, a softshell version of The Mozy wraps securely around your legs with hook-and-loop fasteners. You can even get up to grab a snack without it falling off!
The Mozy was created for the outdoors, which makes it ideal for cool days on the patio or watching sports from the bleachers. The Comfy, a blanket shaped like an oversized hoodie, might be too casual for video meetings, but it offers another cozy option when you’re off camera.
Keep Your Drinks Hot
Warm yourself from the inside out with a hot cup of coffee, tea, broth or hot water with lemon and honey. Purchase a good Thermos to keep your drink of choice piping hot all day and generally safe from potential spills.
Hydroflask ranks among the favorite options, but most double-walled, vacuum-sealed thermal cups or tumblers should do the trick. Bonus: In the summer they keep drinks icy cold.
If you have plenty of electrical outlets and no kids or pets to mess with the cord, a cup warmer base is another option. These won’t warm a cold drink but will keep a hot drink warm.
