Some other advice for people learning how to live in the cold/Snow:
-the secret to not falling on ice is to keep your center of gravity low. you can do this by walking by not bending any part of you above your knees. Just knee-shuffle along like a penguin. they’re not dumb they walk like that for a reason.
-Get on your bed and practice falling on ice a few times. The trick is to unlearn your first instinct- to throw an arm out to catch yourself. Don’t do that, that’s how we get broken wrists. teach yourself to instead cover your head and face like you’re at a really, really loud rock concert and you need to press your forearms to your ears to block the noise because your hands aren’t thick enough. This will protect your head and your arms. You can also try learning to twist when you fall so you land on your ass. It’s padded, that’s what it’s for.
-WEAR. YOUR. MASK. Not only is there a pandemic still on, but the mask will keep your face warm (if you’re wearing it right, jack frost can’t nip your nose. becuase you have it covered with a mask.) AND keep the air you’re breathing warmer/more humid, which will keep you a hell of a lot more comfortable.
-HYDRATE! You don’t notice how much you’re sweating in heavy winter clothes because most of them are designed to wick moisture away from your body to keep you warm. So your shirt gets drenched and your kidneys dry out. Keep up that water intake- yes, hot things like tea, cocoa and coffe count as hydration. they’re not as good as straight water, but they do hydrate you.
-Eat! Being cold burns calories AND depletes you of electrolytes becuase you’re sweating in your parka.
-When picking out winter wear: Animal fibers will do a MUCH better job keeping you warm than synthetics (which are plastic and suck) and plant fibers (which actively cool you when it’s hot times again). Go for the wool jacket and stock up on wool socks and gloves. If you can find silk for undershirts and shorts, DO IT. Yes, it’s expensive but these are investments in Not Dying Of Hypothermia, and properly cared for, they’ll last for ages. It’s worth it. You can frequently pick them up on Goodwill.com or ebay for really good prices, and sometimes you get lucky and fur coats/stoles/muffs etc. turn up. Get them. Fur will keep you warmer than anything else.
-Animal fibers ALSO goes for bedding. You also need Layers when you’re sleeping. from the bottom: Matteress, that shitty white mattress pad/cover that’s there to keep it clean, sheets that have hopefully been laundered in the last month. You. topsheet if you sleep with one, or a soft/fleece blanket. Duvet or comforter, if you can get down that’s the best. Finally, heavy blanket like a quilt or wool blanket. Don’t have the good stuff? just layer as many layers as possible over yourself, rather than going for a single thick blanket. the successive air pockets will insulate your better, and allow you to control your temp more easily.
-If you’re not already letting your pets sleep in bed with you then IDK what’s wrong with you, but let fluffy and fido share thier body heat with you. Or your goats. Maybe not the betta fish though. (Also move any aquariums, houseplants, gandma or other immobile, temperature-sensitive lifeforms away from the windows.
-Pull your window shades down and draw the curtains. It actually really helps with heat retention, way more than you’d think. it’s weird.
-If possible, weatherstrip and insulate all your doors, windows, any basement/attic acess and keep a heat bubble where you spend most of your day.
-If you can, call your energy company and ask if they do energy/insulation audits. I’ve got Excel, which is absolute garbage, but they do energy consultations and provided some extra insulation work for free to me. Your local power company may have a similar deal going on, or they’ll at least be able to tell you where insulating will help the most.
-If your area is expiriencing power outages, do the following: Fill your bathtub with water so you can flush the toilet if the power goes out. Fill every pitcher/jug/bowl etc you have with drinkable water becuase again, hydration is key. Charge any chargeable electronic devices like phones, and make sure all battery-operated things have fresh batteries. Pack an overnight bag and decide at what temp you’re going to a friend’s house with power and make sure they know that. Call your congress rep and demand they fucking tax jeff beezos to ficx the fucking power grid because if this country can’t keep the goddamn lights on it’ll be lights out for the republic soon. Maybe use nicer language.
-Playing boardgames by candlelight makes you feel like a sus medival noble plotting your rival’s demise and I highly reccomend it. Just keep an eye on the cat because it’s really hard to play RISK after she knocks a candle over and sets half of europe on fire.
