Cold people: how do you keep warm WFH

[Anothernamebitesthedust]

So I am ALWAYS cold and unhappily it’s just getting worse as I get older. My house is not a warm house and my desk is right by a massive draughty window. (Can’t do anything about the, unfortunately.) I’ve got a little oil radiator which helps but still, I’m sometimes so cold I’m shivering.

So I’m after some tips on what to wear to keep me warm while I work. I’m on Teams most of the day and fairly senior so I do need to look presentable, but not super smart. (M

Obviously I wear a vest every day but it’s not enough. What should I wear?

I would see a GP to check your iron levels, you may also be low on magnesium. Being fairly sedentary will not help either, regular exercise will encourage your body to regulate it's temperature more efficiently.

If you are cold at work then this is a HR/Occupational Health matter. They CAN and must do something about it, and you need to push for it to be dealt with for your own health. They either need to fix it or move you to a suitable alternative location.

At home, see if you're eligible for any hearing grants. Damp and moisture enhance the cold so when you are at home, try to air or your house with the doors and windows open on milder days so it can dry out. Put your heating on a timer, so it keeps your house at a regular temperature.

Putting thick body moisturiser/body butter on before you get dressed will help you stay warm as well. Something like epiderm ointment or body shop body butter. X

I’ve just bought fleece-lined jeans from Amazon - with postage came to about £16. So can’t say if they work but they get good reviews. I have a hot water bottle on my lap and also so I can put my fingers on it between typing. Lots of layers and a small electric heater (my wfh office is a shed in the garden)

Keep your feet and neck warm and that should help. A thin knitted scarf. Thermal tights and thick socks.

I agree with another poster, have you been checked for deficiencies? Anaemia being the obvious one, even if a meat eater, but also possibly Vit D deficiency, thyroid, diabetes etc. Do your hands of feet go white or purple? You describe feeling cold ALL the time and its getting worse, so please get this checked asap with your Dr.

Some good ideas here, but to add something different: it sounds like a big part of the issue here is the draughty window(s), so it would be good to get that fixed.
One option of course is to ask your landlord if they can do anything to improve the insulation, but it sounds like you've already done that or aren't expecting them to help if you did? But there are a few things you might be able to do about it yourself even if they won't:

Firstly, if there is a window ledge or it goes down to the floor and there are draughts at the bottom, a draught excluder (sausage dog type) should help.

Second, you can buy rolls of sticky-backed draught sealing tape, which you put into the leaky gaps (you may need to open the window - just apply strips of it along the sides of the frame and/or window. If you put it on carefully I don't think it should damage the windows/frames unless they are already in a bad state, but if worried, get the landlord's approval first and/or do a careful test. It's not as good as properly-sealed windows but should help a bit and isn't particularly expensive.

Third, although this needs a bit more care, you can also buy window film - I used this when I was in a freezing house-share with very draughty windows. It's just like big sheets of cling film which you put over the whole window on the inside, taped to the frame, and then you use a hairdryer to shrink it to a tight fit and it acts a bit like double glazing (only not as good, obviously!). But you would just need to make sure the tape wouldn't damage the frames (and again maybe check with the landlord first). B&Q for example sell it (and the tape).

Finally - especially when it's already dark outside - thick/thermal curtains can help a lot!

Funny you should say that @Elouera my fingers do go white...pushing a trolley round the cold bit in the supermarket is hell for me! Why do you ask?

Heated throw, fingerless gloves - sorted! I'm too tight to put the heating on in work's time.

OP- you might have a condition called reynauds disease as you said you get white fingers and feel the cold all the time- and its getting worse! It can be due to a circulatory disorder, but still needs investigation as can be linked to other issues. Here is the NHS link, but look it up elsewhere to see if any of it clicks for you. best of luck, but please get checked before trying to turn your home upside down to block cold/wind when it might be a medical problem that can be sorted in yourself!

www.nhs.uk/conditions/raynauds/

Not the answer you are looking but I am no longer anywhere near as cold as I used to be since I discovered and treated my Vitamin D deficiency. It might be worth trying a vitamin supplement.

Polarseal products are good. I have a top that uses a battery pack like a portable phone charger type thing which you zip up in the pocket and you can choose which heated areas to out on via buttons in the arm. It’s not work wear but it’s plain and you could easily wear the gilet on top of anything else.

4 ft hot water bottle. They are fab.

I've been wearing padded snowboarding trousers as my bottom half over thermals and jeans.

I bought two of these www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0851KTSRZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabt1_1XASFbSE0RR6Y?psc=1&_encoding=UTF8&tag=mumsnetforu03-21 Beware of those from other sellers - I got one and it wasn't as thick so I returned it. But I love mine - they even go in the tumble drier.

I wear Uniqlo heat tech thermals (top and bottom), von haus oil heater www.vonhaus.com/vh_en/2000w-closed-fin-oil-filled-radiator

Thick jumper, these socks from Next
www.next.co.uk/style/st443165/816501 and these wonderful slippers from Shepherds of Sweden www.shepherdofsweden.com/women/sheepskin-slippers/lina-sheepskin-slippers-gold

Plus copious amounts of hot drinks!

I have been wearing microwavable slipper socks almost every day.

www.argos.co.uk/product/7074572?clickSR=slp:term:electric%20throw:19:60:2
Do yourself and your energy bill a favour and get one of these- you’ll be toasty. Also the more expensive thick brushed fleece leggings in tight dept from Primark worn under jeans or dresses etc will make you like a heat furnace. I get the XL ones and just cut the waist band open - doesn’t make any difference to look or visibility of them.

Is your heating on? Keep it on and at 18.5-23 degrees. Depending on how toasty you want to feel. For me, I keep my heating on 24 /7, it’s automatic and if the room thermostat falls below 23 degrees. It self regulates to bring the temp back to 23 degrees. I absolutely l, hate being cold. I categorically function in the cold. So, I don’t like to be cold.

Also, sounds like you have a problem with draft. I believe you mentioned in a subsection post that the property is rented. Could you not speak to the landlord to fix the draft issue? Or implement the suggestions of others in regards to this matter.

Hot water bottle up my jumper (out of sight of Zoom calls).
Uniqlo heatech layers
A big, thick, woollen shawl that I wrap around me and just take off when I'm on a call.
A plug in oil radiator in the room I'm working so I don't have to keep the central heating on all day.
Sheepskin slippers.
Lots of hot tea.

@lonelySam

I am the same. I have UGG slippers and will get proper wool socks (knitting them atm), I wear merino and cashmere. I have merino trousers - they made all the difference.

Heating does nothing to my room :( I have cashmere wrist warmers too.
And a hot water bootle.

Where did you get merino trousers from, please?

I think I must be at a bad age 😩
I’m so warm I’m wearing vest tops and keep a cardigan handy to cover myself on Teams calls !
I’m in chilly Scotland too 🙄

Big fluffy slippers and a heated throw from Lakeland over my lap.

Hot water bottle . Ugg style boot slippers

I've been known to throw on my cashmere beanie whilst not in meetings 😂

@IloneRN Plein Publique - Dutch company, great quality

"Slipper boots. Sheepskin are good but TBH the fleecy fake fur ones from Tesco are just as good for warmth."

Really? I've got £10 winter slipper boots and I don't think they keep my feet that warm. Even when the rest of me is warm, my feet are cold, especially when sitting and working.

[quote Elouera]OP- you might have a condition called reynauds disease as you said you get white fingers and feel the cold all the time- and its getting worse! It can be due to a circulatory disorder, but still needs investigation as can be linked to other issues. Here is the NHS link, but look it up elsewhere to see if any of it clicks for you. best of luck, but please get checked before trying to turn your home upside down to block cold/wind when it might be a medical problem that can be sorted in yourself!

www.nhs.uk/conditions/raynauds/[/quote]
I've always assumed I have Raynaud's but that there wasn't much to be done about it. That link doesn't make me think a GP would help much actually. The NHS advice to 'keep warm' is about the least helpful thing ever.