I lived in Pennsylvania for the first 20 years of my life, so I know all about cold weather. Even here in North Carolina, although I’ve escaped most of the snow, it still can get pretty chilly during the winter. Regardless of the temperature outside, I’ve found that it almost doesn’t matter what season it is, the office always seems to be an icebox and I can never quite figure out how to stay warm at work.
This is great for those that claim that being cold keeps you awake. However, that is not the case for me and personally, if I am cold I am miserable and much less focused. Obviously there is work to be done, so I’m sharing the tips I’ve found that keep me warm at work, regardless of the season.
The caveat here is that I know that right now many of us are fortunate to be working at home and have access to a multitude of solutions including turning up the heat, wearing slippers and fuzzy socks, lounging in our favorite combo of pjs and loungewear, and even breaking out that Snuggie when not on a video call. Therefore, in these times, this one goes out to the brave souls that are still grinding out work in their frigid offices during a pandemic. You may not have a choice, but regardless, I salute you. As for the rest of us, although it may seem like the world will never go back to normal, the decades of life ahead of us remind us that rationally, it most likely eventually will, and because of that, you may want to bookmark this post for later.
1. Up Your Winter Work Wardrobe
How about that for alliteration? The next time you are out shopping, be realistic and remember how frigid your office is when you’re eyeing up the summer dress. When shopping, buy a bunch of versatile pieces, like sweaters and long-sleeved shirts, that can be worn different ways (layered, with a necklace, etc.). Scarves are a great way to dress up a basic long sleeve or sweater and can be super stylish if you do it right. Sweater dresses, or normal dresses, are great with a scarf and nylons with long boots. If your office is more on the business professional side, blazers can be super warm, especially if you give yourself enough room to allow more than just a dressy tank or tee underneath.
This tip doesn’t only work for those with a big budget. I also encourage you to get creative with what you have. Chances are if you think outside of the box you’ll realize that you have more than you think and that scarf that you have thrown in a box at the top of your closet can pair nicely with a top that you already have.
2. Layer. Layer. Layer.
Before you roll your eyes at me and think, well thanks Grandma, hear me out. Leggings under dress pants are a lifesaver! Not only do they provide an extra layer of warmth, they cling to your body so that the wind can’t attack your calves when you’re taking your morning Starbucks run in bootcut dress pants.
If you have the room for them, I recommend definitely recommend throwing on a pair of leggings because they are thicker (bonus points if they’re fleece lined); however, if you don’t, even a pair of nylons/pantyhose will help. In a pair of my larger pants, I have even gotten away with wearing super soft joggers underneath and it was heavenly, so it might not be a bad idea to buy the next size up the next time you go shopping. 😜
3. Keep a Jacket at Work at All Times
Leave an extra fleece, blazer, or jacket draped over your chair at all times. Even if you aren’t typically that cold, you never know when you will need it and it’s better to be safe than sorry. On a day that the office is feeling especially chilly or if you’re wearing a dress, you can always drape it over your legs for extra warmth. Depending on the culture and work environment, I’ve also seen people use blankets… and after this pandemic, we may even get away with slippers while at our desks!
4. Drink a Warm Beverage
Whether you fancy tea or coffee, drinking a warm beverage helps to raise the internal temperature of your body and will make you feel warmer throughout. Swap that iced latte out for a hot one and you’ll feel warmer and will have a nice little hand heater to go along with it. If you’re trying to cut out sugar, black coffee, plain tea, and warm lemon water are great options.
5. Have Soup for Lunch
On a similar note as the one above, eating warm foods will also help to warm you up. Soup is a great, cozy option for lunch and for breakfast, you can always make yourself some oatmeal!
6. Bring a Space Heater
This is certainly not allowed in all offices due to fire codes, so check on that first! However, if your office policy permits, a space heater is a foolproof way to keep you warm while you work. I have a little mini one that plugs directly into the outlet like a wall plugin and is great by my feet. However, they also have ones that are corded that allow more flexibility as far as where you put them.
Are you always cold? What tricks have you found that help you cope so you can be a functioning member of society? Did you learn anything new that you’re excited to implement?
