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I'm freezing

79 replies

Ghostlyglow · 27/10/2020 13:19

How are you staying warm if WFH? Currently have blanket over my knees (wearing leggings) top half:t shirt, denim shirt, thick hoodie, fingerless gloves, scarf and woolly hat! DP won't countenance heating on through the day yet and I don't think I can confortably wear any more clothes!

OP posts:
NeverPromisedYouARoseGarden · 27/10/2020 14:27

Sympathies. I have worked from home for years and really feel the cold. DP would have no issue with heating being on all day but it does feel excessive when it's just me home alone. My tips would be...

  1. Heating on for 1.5 to 2 hrs twice during working day. In depths of winter heating on all day.

  2. Electric heated gilet. Bloody amazing!

  3. Fleece-lined leggings (Primark £5 also amazing)

  4. Real sheepskin boots (Ugg type) as slippers.

  5. Thermal leggings & long-sleeved t-shirt (although I save these until v cold weather)

  6. Get up and move around every 45 mins - run up and down stairs or use the time to get a chore done - eg put a wash on, clean the loo.

  7. In proper freezing cold weather I put a fan heater under my desk and switch it on in short bursts. Really dries the air out so not ideal for long periods.

Are you in the UK? Cos I don't think it even feels that cold here yet!

BlankTimes · 27/10/2020 14:48

Do you have a room thermometer OP? What temp is the room right now? Sometimes it feels colder than it actually is. Also what you have on your feet can make a big difference, Ugg type boots will help insulate your feet from a cold floor and I agree, fleecy lined leggings and/or thermals and jogging bottoms are better.

We use these as hot water bottles, 6 or so mins in the microwave depending on wattage and they stay warm for hours. They are not flexible, but if you can comfortably place it near you, say in a lap-blanket, it would help.

As for your DP not countenancing having the heating on, it's not his decision to make. There are all sorts of single room heaters, but it doesn't do a house good to remain very cold all the time, it's false economy, a lower temp everywhere topped up by a single room heater where you are is much better for the property than to have no background heat as any warm air condenses on the walls because they are so cold.

I think there are Health and Safety regulations about temperature and working conditions for office staff, maybe have a look at those.

You are working to add to the family's income, you can't be expected to do that in conditions that are too cold. Get him to try being in a cold room for the working day, he may change his perspective.

Bluntness100 · 27/10/2020 15:46

I’m not sure what difference it makes what temp it actually is, she’s freezing and that’s in hat and gloves etc. She’s still going to be freezing if she knows the temp. And healthy and safety regulations are irrelevant.

As said, either he’s a total twat and the op should just put the heating on, she’s an equal partner, or this is a financial issue, and they can’t afford to heat their home, which means it’s not her partners fault.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

OverTheRainbowLiesOz · 27/10/2020 15:51

Happy medium is to have very low heating / or occasional blast, combined with the all the other solutions to stop her feeling cold in the first place.

user1471538283 · 27/10/2020 16:42

I cannot bear being cold so I put the heating on. If you can afford to have the heating on put it on. It is your home too!

Popcornismandatory · 27/10/2020 17:48

You need cozy feet so invest in some Ugg boots - the sort that come up to the knee are super warm and toasty.

caringcarer · 28/10/2020 04:57

You can buy little oil filled plug in mini radiators so just heat room you are in. When our central heating system broke last winter and we had to wait 6 days for person who could fix it we bought 3 and they really made a big difference. Put jogging bottoms on over leggings.

Interfluvials · 28/10/2020 05:42

You don't say anything about footwear? What are you wearing on your feet? They need to be warm and thick soled. We have tiled floors and in winter I wear fleece lined crocs. If my feet are cold then so is the rest of me. Make sure your ankles are warm too!

Sodamncold · 28/10/2020 05:49

I air quickly in the morning (fling open the opens from 8-10

And then close then and heating on.... lovely and cosy all day

PhilCornwall1 · 28/10/2020 05:54

How are you staying warm if WFH?

Heating is on, the radiators are there to do a job and a fine one they do too.

Sodamncold · 28/10/2020 06:16

These OPs make me so happy that I’m a single parent and totally in charge of extra aspect of my home and domain!

No one tells or suggests to me what I can and can’t do under my own roof!

Dontforgetyourbrolly · 28/10/2020 06:24

My home office is the smallest bedroom and it gets the sun all day ( if the sun does ever come out !) , if I keep the door shut it stays warm .
I'm here alone most of the time when ds is at school so I wont heat the whole house , a portable oil filled radiator is great .

FallonsTeaRoom · 28/10/2020 06:33

DP won't countenance heating on through the day

You both live there. Not his decision. If you're cold put the heating on.

FourTeaFallOut · 28/10/2020 06:36

Put the bloody heating on if you can afford it and tell him to fuck off.

devildeepbluesea · 28/10/2020 06:44

I now live in an incredibly well insulated mid terrace so even now am boiling after just an hour of heating, but I used to live in a draughty old house and WFH all the time. I was also a single parent so unwilling to spend too much on heating.

I used to put the burner on occasionally (granted you can't do this if you don't have one!) and only ever used scavenged wood.

But day to day I had thermals, a hot water bottle and an electric radiator for when it got really cold. I also went out for a walk at lunchtime. It was fine.

BooseysMom · 28/10/2020 06:47

Add hot drinks to the list above.

when you allow yourself to get cold it's so much harder to warm up later on

Also this. My nose is my main indicator of how cold I am! I need a nose cosy!

The heating does need to be on for a bit around lunch time as the house should not be allowed to cool down too much as it takes ages to warm back up again.

Another tip is I've found that putting a hot water bottle against your midriff really helps as the heat gets to your body quicker. Or something. It does help though!

Bluntness100 · 28/10/2020 06:49

No one tells or suggests to me what I can and can’t do under my own roof!

I honestly don’t think it’s common for one person to ban heating in thr home like this. Certainly I don’t do it and neither does my husband, if one of us is cold we put the heating on without discussion, and I think that the norm.

It’s really not the case that if you live with someone you need to live being told what you can and can’t do.

BobbinThreadbare123 · 28/10/2020 06:54

My XH used to do this. If I dared put the heating on he would turn it down or off. Note the X part....tight bastard.

Hyperfish101 · 28/10/2020 06:56

I’m not spending money on travel so spending it on CH. can’t work in the cold.

Esca · 28/10/2020 07:02

My ex husband used to turn the heating off on the way out of the house. He’d go sit in a heated office while the kids and I shivered. Now I have the heating on when I choose.

Perhaps consider if you have a temperature issue, or a husband issue.

LouisLitt · 28/10/2020 07:05

Why is it you partner’s decision Confused

MinesAPintOfTea · 28/10/2020 07:09

Discuss with your DH - he shouldn't expect you to sit still in an unheated house all day.

However I can definitely feel if I am wearing cotton (as you are) rather than pure wool. Wool is much much warmer.

I have jumpers, thin cardigans, base layers, long Johns and socks all in wool most days. Plus ugg-style slippers. And then when I feel the chill in my hands I go and give the heating an hour boost.

MinesAPintOfTea · 28/10/2020 07:11

Is the air in your home damp too? That can make a difference. If it's not raining i open the windows wide for 10 mins every morning to dry the house.

lovelemoncurd · 28/10/2020 07:13

I put the heating on! I'm not spending ££ on petrol soI heat the house instead!

Esca · 28/10/2020 07:13

Also, now that I’ve read back, I see that you’ve had several comments like mine, which might not seem helpful.

I hope you find a way to stay warm that actually addresses any underlying issue, because it’s a long time until spring! 🥶

In my case, I heat my office with a radiant electric heater for 18p per hour, which my ex might have found a lot cheaper than divorce!