Stay warm while at home by remembering to do one free thing every hour
As winter sets in, many will be reaching for the thermostat and layering up their clothes in an effort to stay warm. But the government also has another tip.
Keeping warm this winter is a priority for us all, from putting on the heating to layering up clothes. Yet with the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, heating bills can be costly.
Temperatures have been dropping in recent weeks as snow and ice spread across the UK. As winter sets in, people need to be doing everything they can to stay warm indoors in order to protect their health. To help, the government has set out simple advice that anyone can adopt in their homes.
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Among their tips is a free thing the majority of people will be able to do that should keep them warm. They said: "When you are indoors, there are things you can do that will help to keep you warm and reduce the risk of developing medical problems, for example try not to sit still for more than an hour or so."
The government advice added: "If you find it difficult to move about, stretching your arms and legs can also help keep you warm." Physical activity, no matter how small, can help generate body heat and improve circulation.
This can include gentle exercises such as stretching through to wiggling your toes. Household chores can also help circulation through the body and keep temperatures up.
If you're feeling up to it, you can even dance around the living room or pace the house while on the phone. Regular movement can help maintain body heat, so even getting up to boil the kettle every hour will have a benefit.
Other ways to stay warm at home without reaching for the heating include wearing more layers, eating and drinking warm items and making sure doors are closed. Drawing the curtains and using draught excluders can block cold air coming in.
Make sure your radiators aren't blocked by furniture when you have them on. You can even put reflective foil behind the radiators to direct heat back into the room.
For a budget friendly option, tin foil can be used and will cost less than £2. Rugs help trap in heat, so can be added to rooms that could do with a little more warmth to them.
They add extra insulation to hard surfaces such as tiles, hardwood or laminate. For wooden floors, a thick rug can help trap in more heat.
You should also address any cracks or openings in wooden floors so heat doesn't slip away. Seal them up with a wood filler for an energy-efficient solution.
Plus, if rugs are too costly, you can simply lay down blankets or even cardboard to give rooms a boost.
