How to keep warm when working from home and save money, from jump squats and ginger tea to cheese
As a terminal homeworker, my top tip to work-from-home rookies during the pandemic was not to deny themselves the comforts of the office, whether that meant coffee breaks or putting the heating on.
I wasn’t being flippant. Office workers often splurge on travel and lunch, and anyone working at home deserves to get through their day without developing chilblains.
But could my advice have aged any worse in the last year? As temperatures plummet for a cold start to December, energy prices soar, and the cost of living crisis is squeezing wallets across the country, those of us lucky enough to work inside need some soothing strategies to keep warm and carry on without causing costs to skyrocket in the process.
Dress the part
Choosing the right clothes for cold weather isn’t about bulk. “Layers are the best way to keep warm,” says John Lewis’s product development technologist Yasmin Khan. “Air gets trapped between each item, making it harder for body heat to escape.”
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The material of your layers matters, too, says Khan. Natural fibres like cotton and wool keep you warm and maintain your body’s natural temperature because they’re breathable. Brushed cotton traps air particles, making it insulating, and some man-made fibres such as polyester have thermal properties too. Of course we can’t all afford cashmere, but I’ve invested in Uniqlo’s extra fine merino wool tops this season – long sleeves, cosy fit, Zoom-appropriate.
My American husband is used to long, cold winters and always swears by wearing silk or merino tights under his clothes when it’s cold. Until this year, I have argued I don’t have the space between my jeans and my flesh for another layer. But if you’re working at home, you can wear tracksuit bottoms and squeeze any additional layers underneath.
Draft-proof your workspace
New research from home heating brand Worcester Bosch has found that over half of us are turning off the heating completely to manage costs….
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