“It’s Baltic out, isn’t it?” “I’m telling you there’ll be frost tonight.” “Sure you wouldn’t put a dog out in that.” Talking about the weather is a national pastime, so it’s up to all of us to bring the goods to the table when the current cold snap comes up in conversation. Because it definitely will. At least once a day.
To be fair, there are very few things you can say about the weather that Irish people won’t find interesting. Once you’ve got the conversation covered, it’s time to start thinking about how to look after yourself during the big freeze. Here are seven ways to stay cosy this winter…
DO: Look after your feet
If your feet get cold, you’re in trouble. Big trouble. Walking around with blocks of ice for tootsies is a recipe for disaster. Spend some money on a decent pair of boots. You will get the wear out of them. Don’t let anyone tell you that you won’t. And make sure you choose a pair with good grip because, well, we all know what can happen…
DON’T: Spend ages defrosting the car windscreen
If you wake up and the windscreen of your car has frozen over, the last thing you want to do is spend time hanging around outside wondering what to do. Fill a basin or saucepan with hot water (take it from the shower to save yourself time waiting for water to heat up) and throw it over the frozen windows. While you’re at it, turn on the heat in the car before you leave so you can take off for work feeling toasty. And if you’re super organised, bring yourself a flask of tea to warm you up. If you start the day off feeling cold, it’s tough to recover.
DO: Make sure your bedroom is toasty
If hibernation was an option during the cold snap, we’d take it. We’ve heard from multiple sources that it’s not though, sorry about that. Make the best of a bad situation and ensure your leaba is as cosy as it can possibly be. You might need to get a duvet with a higher tog, don’t be afraid to double up on hot water bottles, and if you’re a really cold creature, invest in an electric blanket. Be warned: once you get an electric blanket, there’s no going back. It’s a whole new level of cosy that will spoil you for life.
DON’T: Let the draught win
Irish houses are full of draughts. That’s just a fact. But there’s no need to send those heating bills through the roof just because temperatures are taking a dip. Check your whole house for potential draughts. We’re talking windows, doors, keyholes, letterboxes, chimney, fireplaces, floorboards and cracks in the wall. Cover wooden floors with rugs, close the curtains, invest in a couple of draught excluders, use adhesive fill for windows. Take these simple steps and you’ll be snug as a bug.
DON’T: Avoid exercise
You can’t spend the entire cold season under your duvet – even if you really want to. Keep up your exercise routine. As well as giving you a rush of endorphins, working out will get the blood pumping around your body and heat you up. If you can’t face heading into the cold by yourself, bring the dog, your other half or your best friend for company.
DO: Wear layers
Tis the season of slankets, slippers and sweaters and it’s time to get wrap up, people. Obviously, the more skin that’s exposed to cool air, the colder you’ll feel. And although we tend to reach for the biggest wooliest jumper, wearing layers of thin clothes will actually keep you warmer as they trap body heat.
DO: Eat well
It’s that time of year when your body is calling out for warming, hearty dishes which means it’s time to indulge in all sorts of delicious soups, stews and casseroles. Eating regular meals will keep you warm. And when it comes to hot drinks, stick to decaffeinated or herbal ones if you can. Caffeine increases blood flow to the skin and although you may feel warmer as a result, your body is actually losing heat. Who knew?
Now that you know how to protect yourself from the cold, protect yourself from health insurance price rises with the Big Price Freeze from Laya Healthcare. With prices starting from just €495 on Laya Healthcare’s affordable new range of Future Protect schemes, you can enjoy the peace of mind of having your health insurance costs FROZEN for up to two years.
But get your skates on – signup closes on February 28! Find out more about Laya Healthcare’s Big Price Freeze, or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.
Laya Healthcare Insurance is provided by Elips Insurance Limited trading as Laya Healthcare. Laya Healthcare Limited, trading as Laya Healthcare, is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
