How To Stay Warm Through The Storms This Winter

Last Updated on: 3rd February 2025, 11:20 pm

Staying warm is essential at this time of the year, especially with the storms that we are having at the moment. I remember a time I used to walk to school in the winter months in Germany without a coat. Nowadays, I can’t even sit still without feeling cold. As you get older, it is easier to feel colder and it is more important to stay warm. But with energy prices so high, it is hard to keep warm without feeling the financial pinch. So hopefully these tips for how to stay warm through the storms will help you this year.

How To Stay Warm And Cosy At Home

It is hard to get out of bed when it is cold, so set your heating timer to come on 30 minutes before you wake up. This will help you to find the energy to get out of bed and ready for the day. Keep your thermostat at a steady 18-21°C then the thermostat will stay within a reasonable temperature for you. It won’t let you get too cold and it will automatically drop to 18 if it gets too hot. Draft-proof your windows and doors with self-adhesive strips or use door snakes at the bottom of your doors. You won’t believe the amount of cold that comes underneath the door. Use thick curtains and close them as soon as it gets dark. When it gets dark, the weather drops to really cold. So with the warm curtains, it should keep the cold out and the warmth in. Consider investing in a smart thermostat as a way of how to stay warm and manage heating more efficiently.

Layer Up Out And About And At Home

The Smart Way Think of layering like building a warm hug around yourself. Start with a base layer those thin, close-fitting tops and leggings work wonders. Add a warm middle layer like a woolly jumper, and finish with a waterproof outer layer for going out on those wet days. Don’t forget about warm socks and gloves, and a good hat can make all the difference when you go out. keep a spare set of warm socks in your bag; there’s nothing worse than wet feet on a cold day! I have been caught out in the rain and had to wear wet socks all day!

Stock Your Food Cupboards, In Case You Can’t Get Out

There’s something incredibly comforting about knowing you’re well-prepared for winter weather. I always ensure my cupboards are stocked with:

• Long-life milk
• Beans, Peas and sweetcorn.
• Hotdogs and meatballs for the kids
• Tinned soups and beans
• Quick-cook pasta and rice
• Hot chocolate and plenty of tea
• Comfort food ingredients for family favourites

Fill your freezer with some food that you can put a meal together with.

• Frozen vegetables
• Ready made meals, these are better if you can batch cook and freeze healthy meals
• Bread and rolls
• meat for warming casseroles

Speaking of food, winter is the perfect time to embrace warming meals. Keep your slow cooker handy for hearty stews, soups, and casseroles. Not only do these meals warm you from the inside out, but they also fill your home with comforting smells. My family’s favourite is a simple vegetable soup with crusty bread – it’s budget-friendly and perfect for those cold after school evenings.

How To Stay Warm And Be Smart With Energy

While keeping warm is essential, so is managing those winter energy bills. They can get very expensive throughout the winter. Try these tips to stay warm but keep the bills down.

Firstly you should only heat the rooms that you’re using. If you have a spare bedroom that is never used, then don’t keep a radiator on in there. Warm the rooms up that you need. And you do not need the heating on all of the time. Maybe warm your bedroom up an hour before bed time and an hour before you get up. When you close the doors, pop a draught excluder at the bottom of the door. This keeps the heat in the room and the cold out.

When you are in bed, you can stay warm by using a good quality duvet (13.5 tog is ideal for winter) and an electric blanket. Oodies and thermal pyjamas will also keep you warm in bed. You can also use a hot water bottle in bed as well as whilst you are sitting and watching the tv. Warmies are also great to keep you warm, you can read about them here.

Be Prepared For Emergencies

British weather can be unpredictable, so it’s wise to be prepared for power cuts and frozen pipes. The thing about the UK is that we know winter comes every year, but nobody ever prepares for it properly. But if you go to a nordic country, they are prepared for everything.

Keep torches and batteries handy in case the power does go out. We also keep power banks fully charged, in case we need to charge our devices and the power has gone out. Keep some bottled water handy in case your pipes freeze. And always have emergency numbers for your family close by, so you can call and check up on them. Lastly, I know of a few people who keep a battery powered radio for emergency situations.

The Mental Health Aspect

Let’s not forget that staying warm isn’t just about physical comfort. The dark, cold days can affect our mental wellbeing too. Create cosy corners in your home with soft blankets, fairy lights, and comfortable cushions. Make time for warm baths, light some candles, and embrace the Danish concept of ‘hygge’ – that feeling of cosy contentment. What are your favourite ways to stay warm during winter? I’d love to hear your tips in the comments below!