Nobody likes the cold, but in some cases we have no choice. If you are not ready to face it, the harsh climate causes physical discomfort, promotes disease and drains your energy. If you need to move to a colder location or are just trying to get through the winter in the best possible way, follow the steps in this article to learn how to adapt to freezing temperatures.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Get Your Body Used
Step 1. Get out in the fresh air
If you want to get used to the cold, you have to experiment with it. In late fall or winter, or if you live in an area where the weather is always harsh, spend a couple of hours outside every day. Wear only the clothes you need to not freeze and take something off when you feel most comfortable. Over time, you will be able to stay outdoors longer and suffer less and less from the low temperature.
- When you have to spend a lot of time outdoors, wear gloves, boots, and a hat, but try not to wear a jacket. It is usually the extremities that cool the fastest, and when you feel your ears or fingers go numb, you may decide to go inside before you feel really cold.
- When in the car, try not to turn on the air conditioning. For an even greater challenge, roll down the windows.
Step 2. Take a cold shower
Turn the tap in the opposite direction as usual. Cold showers can be really unpleasant, but they are a direct and effective way to accustom the body to very low temperatures. This is the closest thing to Arctic diving that you can do to develop physiological adaptation mechanisms to extreme freezing.
- Get to take a cold shower by gradually lowering the water temperature. If you start right away with freezing water you may not be able to stand the whole shower.
- You could try alternating the temperature of the water, from hot to cold, to get used to the sudden changes in temperature you will experience when you go outside.
Step 3. Increase your weight
Body fat is a constant source of calories to burn for energy and has the function of acting as a protective layer, in order to keep the body and internal organs at a constant temperature. While this isn't necessarily the most appealing choice, you will suffer less from the cold as you build up your fat mass.
- You should increase your fat mass wisely; always eat a balanced and healthy diet, slightly increasing the amount of calories you consume.
- A diet based on foods rich in proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fats, such as lean meats, dairy products, whole grains and vegetable oils, allows you to gain weight without causing undue stress on the heart and digestive system.
Step 4. Train regularly
Schedule multiple cardiovascular and endurance sessions per week. Your body's metabolism, responsible for converting calories into energy, helps regulate your average body temperature and becomes more efficient through intense physical activity. In other words, by exercising your body will be warmer, because your metabolism will always be in a healthy and active state.
- Gaining muscle mass helps you resist the cold because you will add warm tissue to the body.
- Cardiovascular activity improves the ability of the body and lungs to circulate oxygen-rich blood, favoring the proper functioning of the whole organism.
Method 2 of 3: Change Habits
Step 1. Lower the thermostat
Just as you got used to frost outdoors, you should do the same indoors. To feel comfortable, people often try to maintain a temperature of 21-24 ° C in their homes. Try lowering the thermostat level slightly to get used to living in a colder environment.
Resisting a colder temperature in your home is a great way to save on the cost of your utility bill. If you don't live alone, ask your roommates for permission to turn down the thermostat
Step 2. Lose the habit of covering yourself
The next time you feel cold and are tempted to grab a blanket or slippers, don't. Instead, try to tolerate the frigid temperature and do something to distract yourself. Your goal is to no longer feel the need to cover yourself when you are cold and to learn to deal with the situation without having to. If you are used to living in freezing cold and often take ice-cold showers, this step should be super easy.
- If the temptation to use the blanket on the sofa is too strong, fold it and place it on the top shelf in the closet. You will think twice before picking it up if you have to retrieve it from the bottom of the cabinet.
- Your body temperature naturally drops during the night, so if you want to test your willpower, train yourself to sleep without blankets!
Step 3. Drink ice water
When you're thirsty, always drink a glass of ice water, even in the dead of winter. Ingesting an iced drink slightly lowers your body temperature and this forces the body to react. Many people drink coffee or hot chocolate in the colder months, but you should do the opposite. Eventually, you will no longer feel the need to warm up.
In addition to being a useful tool for acclimating your body to freezing temperatures, freezing water is free and you can find it everywhere
Step 4. Enjoy activities in the cold
You can desensitize yourself to frost even without resorting to iron discipline. Indulge in an outdoor winter sport, like sledding, skiing, or snowboarding, so you have a great excuse to go out when everyone is indoors. You will learn to withstand cold temperatures much faster and find a fun pastime for the colder months.
- Go camping in late autumn or winter to get a direct approach to the cold. When you are immersed in nature you will have no choice but to sleep on the icy earth in the midst of the elements, and your body will thank you!
- You will likely feel warm after a few hours of skiing or snowboarding and this demonstrates your body's ability to generate heat. This should give you a lot of confidence in your ability to withstand the cold.
Method 3 of 3: Train the Mind
Step 1. Feel the temperature firsthand
Instead of thinking about how cold it is when you are outdoors, focus on how you feel. There will usually be a noticeable difference - it will rarely be as cold as you think. Try to accurately assess the temperature of the environment, so as not to exaggerate your reaction.
By learning how cold you feel, you will be able to take control of your gut reaction to stress
Step 2. Imagine it's even colder
It might be cool for your taste, but think if the temperature was even colder. This mind trick allows you to look at the situation from a different point of view and to understand that the freezing weather you are in is not that bad. Remember that some people live in Antarctica and Siberia without complaining; the winter spent in Italy will no longer seem so terrible.
Step 3. Stop shaking
If you find yourself shivering, stop right away. This is one of the mechanisms our body uses to generate heat, but atmospheric conditions have to be quite extreme for this type of physiological response to really be needed. If the outside temperature is close to 0, you are probably exaggerating if you are shaken by tremors.
- Chills are an autonomous process of the body that produces heat by forcing very small and rapid contractions of the muscles, simulating the effect of physical activity.
- Research has shown that shaking when the temperature is not very low is not necessary and has no significant effect in fighting mild cold.
Step 4. Be aware that cold is usually not a threat
It is normal to react to unusual conditions by feeling uncomfortable, but annoyance and danger are two different things. In most cases, cold environments are not harmful, as long as the climate is not so harsh as to be able to lower the internal temperature of the body or that exposure to frost is not prolonged.
Exposure to cold is not life threatening as long as the body temperature does not drop below 35 ° C. At that point, you'd better put your pride aside and find a warm shelter
Advice
- The first thing you should do is accept the cold. If you waste time hoping it will get warmer, you will never get used to freezing temperatures.
- Stop occasionally and tell yourself not to feel cold. After some time your ability to cope with frost will become automatic.
- Minimize the number of layers you wear when you go out for a short time.
- As an alternative to a cold shower, take a bath in a tub filled with ice water for as long as you can resist.
Warnings
- In some cases, the cold is really extreme. Don't be proud: if the temperature drops to dangerous levels or you've been outdoors for a long time, grab your things and find shelter. Pay attention to the factors that lead to hypothermia and its symptoms. There is no reason to put your health and safety at risk.
- Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can strain your body's resources, weakening your immune system and making you more vulnerable to disease. Consider this when trying to get your body used to the cold.
- Freezing is the condition where the extremities of the body suffer nerve and tissue damage due to prolonged exposure to frost. Always cover your hands, feet and head when you have to be in the cold for a long time.
