Any tips for coping with a cold office if you are someone who feels the cold easily?

[CassandraWebb]

I want to spend time in the office ,but I am struggling to stay warm enough whilst also looking professional enough

And most people dont seem to struggle with the temperature so I think it's just a "me" thing. (I struggle a lot to stay warm, it may be related to my chronic condition).

At home I have heated blankets, a heated gilet, hot water bottles etc . But I am struggling to think how to stay warm in an office that is very much still a "traditional professional office wear" type environment.

I tried looking to see if there's anything like the heated gilet I love but in a more professional style. It's good because I can change the temperature with a press of the button (I also get ill if I get too warm 😬)

Would love any tips/ideas people have found make a big difference

Its my torso I think. I don't mind my extremities getting cold so much, but once by body temperature drops I feel ill pretty fast.

But I also struggle if I over heat. So I need something which is easily adaptable without constantly taking layers on and off. It's why I love the heated gilet as with a push of a button I have several different heat settings/can turn it off.

I'm googling the cushions at the moment as I think they might work although it's tricky as we hot desk

But my ideal would be clothing like the gilet but that is work smart! maybe I need to design it

You can get heated car seat covers that would fit well on an office chair but be careful about power fittings - a lot have 12v leads to fit a car cigarette lighter but you can get mains powered ones like this one (again depends on office rules about plugging things in) or ones that work off a USB power bank.

amzn.eu/d/bHfZhIm

I have a thick wool blanket, fingerless gloves and wear a thermal top. Being public sector we can't use our own personal heaters and it's always flipping freezing.

(Especially as people open the main door then stand chatting in the doorway for 5 mins while its blowing a hoolie. We did have a nasty manager who took great pleasure in turning the heating off as he was fine with his short sleaved shirt, devout church going Christian but he had a hellish sadistic side to him.).

Uniqlo Heat Tech thermals.

Trousers with heat tech leggings underneath.

Wool or thermal socks

Long sleeved heat tech top

Merino wool or cashmere roll neck sweater

Jacket.

Dies your hairstyle suit a nice broad (warm) hairband?

OP, I'm the same. Always freezing. GP not bothered. Colleagues open windows as they're too hot, while I'm shivering. I have an under the desk foot heater. I also wear a thick wool poncho when I'm feeling really chilly. Love the heated cushion idea!

I've been round the houses with GPs and consultants about it. Noone is quite sure what is causing it. Interestingly it seemed to go away while I was on immune suppressants and has come back now I am off then (after some very bad reactions) I will keep asking but so far no one is really sure why it happens

My managers are fine about me WFH if I feel too cold but I want to be in the office at least a couple of days a week because I feel there is so much to gain from being around colleagues

I keep a coulé of wraps/shawls at work for this.

Oh thank you! I think that is exactly what I need! I will talk to work to see if they would be happy for me to keep one in the office

Heater.
Hot water bottle
Lots of hot drinks, snacks and trips to the ladies to keep warm
Big wrap scarf.
Primark fleecy shoe liners.

I feel the cold so go into winter fully armed

One of these. I don’t take it to work because our office is usually about 45,000 degrees but you easily could. I do use it when working from home.

https://uk.stoov.com/products/big-hug-woolly-beige?utm_term=&utm_campaign=UK%20-%20SH%20-%20StandardShopping%20-%20Brandname%202.0%20-%20Shopify&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADcxc1t2WDVi7LTZC-1X0FBX6jU38&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv628BhC2ARIsAIJIiK_9mBwpp0h6nQi2nAvoflGrAkFGflsdlK4TErkc69NPm9H3ecmENugaAkRREALw_wcB

This company even has a "warm at work" section on their website. For me, clothes alone don't keep me warm so I need a heat source. An electric hot water bottle works but I do keep eying up their "big hug". I think the fact it is over the chair makes it look more office like than having a heated blanket over my knee

https://uk.stoov.com/collections/working-from-home?utmterm=stoov&utmmcampaign=UK%20-%20Brandname%20-%20ZNW&utmsource=adwords&utmmmedium=ppc&gadsource=1&gbraid=0AAAAADcxc1t-A6LyBsVCtldB5AyoAP9Pk&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3Yj0v8jjigMVP5ZQBh1TSxWiEAAYASACEgLzdfDBwE

I realised I haven't posted the link so came back to do that and realise the previous poster has recommended the exact same product!

You said you have a neurological condition, but the coldness may/may not be related. When were you last checked for anaemia, thyroid, peri and other deficiencies? If the above are normal, and they think it is related to your condition, I'd be speaking to your manager about reasonable adjustments.

I was going to suggest Damart under garments, but you said you already have layers. https://www.damart.co.uk/thermolactyl

Hot water bottle on your lap when sitting down? What about a woollen poncho over the top? Aldi have a heated blanket on sale currently, but at my work, it would need approval and PAT testing to be used.

We're not allowed to bring heaters into work due to them not being PAT tested.

I have a blanket which I put over my legs to keep the draft out and a hot water bottle attached to a belt that my DS got me from TikTok. It's brilliant at keeping me warm.

Also fingerless gloves and lots of warm drinks.

Oh, and I wear jeans and boots now rather than skirts. If they say anything I'll tell them I'll wear office wear when they warm the office up!!

I wouldn't bat an eyelid if I turned up for an appointment and the person I was meeting was wearing a gilet - they seem to have become a staple in most 'smart casual offices these days. I would just wear it....

A smart looking woollen or cashmere wrap would help (especially with a hot water bottle on your lap).

The stoov linked above might work- if you can't plug it in at work you could charge it at home and use it from the battery. It might work from an external power pack too. They're really good at keeping you warmer

I have had slews of blood tests,.I thoughts it must be thyroid and pushed to see a specialist but even their tests said it wasn't that. So I have drawn rather a loss on what causes it. My neurological condition won't help as I can't move round lots to warm but, but most people with it don't seem to have the particular struggle with cold that I do.

Work will.be great about any adjustments I need, disability or not. it's figuring out what to.ask for that's the issue! They have been amazing about accomodating my wheelchair/me working from home whenever I need to.

One of my staff members always feels the cold. I bought her a oil filled radiator to have under her desk. It is much better for everyone, as she doesn't keep cranking the heat up in the whole room, but is warm enough without effecting others.

I am contemplating this, at least in the short term, till I can find out if work will agree to the heated chair cushion or similar

You have serious health condition? Limit to how much you can move to keep warm?

on that case even if it did not go down well with colleagues, having a heater is a reasonable adjustment

I kept a mini hot water bottle in my locker and put it on my lap - https://www.dunelm.com/product/teddy-charcoal-mini-hot-water-bottle-1000245515?defaultSkuId=30905572&branchCode=0555&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Bath_Bathroom+Accessories-Other-PMax_%5BGOO-LIA-BATHACCESS-ACCESSORIES%5D&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADGqyX0f6Amq_28PD-DsOSXwaTPr0&gclid=Cj0KCQiAv628BhC2ARIsAIJIiK_knLRNu8ShV2HHayygyoRfqkxza_aIo-6CsyI5kGqiaMvZL93CevkaAqddEALw_wcB worked a great and no one could see it

You can get heated back warmers (microwaveable) that you put under your clothes so no one will know you’re wearing it if that’s an issue. DH used to use something similar when his back was bad.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zhu-Soothing-Back-Warmer-Microwavable/dp/B07YXDM84F/ref=mp_s_a_1_2_sspa?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.UoSCqtu62vxLT7Bru4X0EKSbSMPpq-yjewVwv2NMgkEbbEAY9ZsuiPZYXaQPHebXxTCciVqqoCQA-5sM9lU3ujtrijTTVZIDJPUxNidHhkzS_FRWl3-Hi2XfX3i7M_QezoWXt3Wy0N5Ju0JyENnIofq_pY94lh21qetKzhOQ8uQYT8b-zj0meZ3s0hd6KEehqjQeLcZpTR94fGgrqYLwQw.ksfNF0MvG4D_JMhHV52XscnTBJadmM-br-ZIYybcuw0&dib_tag=se&keywords=back+warmers&qid=1737213882&sr=8-2-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

OP, this company have various items that might help. I have the chair pad and it's great, easy to turn up/down and very mobile if you're hot-desking

uk.stoov.com/collections/office

These look perfect!