Although video chats are a great way of keeping in touch with friends and family during the COVID-19 pandemic, sometimes you need some face to face interactioneven if those faces are behind masks. Trouble is, the Canadian winter doesn’t make those socially-distanced outdoor visits particularly comfortable. Try these tricks to keep toasty warm while following public health guidelines for safe socializing.(Related: The Importance of Making Memories During Pandemic Life)
Use your noggin
Your choice in a hat can mean the difference between a quick hello or sticking around for an hour-long chat with a friend you havent seen since last March. This deceptively light toques acrylic-wool blend absorbs moisture to keep you warm and dry. Uniqlo HeatTech Knitted Hat, $20, uniqlo.com(Related: All The Gear You Need to Stay Active Outdoors all Winter Long)
Take a cue from outdoor enthusiasts
Considering these ultra-thick fleece socks were designed to keep intrepid ice fishers warm on frozen lake surfaces, theyll certainly be up to the challenge of a backyard visit with your buddy. Winter weight fleece oversocks, $59, patagonia.ca(Related: 5 Top Thermal Leggings for Staying Warm This Winter)
Design a DIY windbreak
Looking for a do-it-yourself project that delivers a huge return on investment? Add a windbreak to your backyard. Whether it’s a fence, a row of shrubs or trees, or another form of screen, it’ll protect you from those bone-chilling breezes, and give you something constructive to do during the lockdown.(Related: How to Treat the Most Common Aches and Pains Caused by Pandemic Life)
Have a campfirewithout the hassle
Make the occasional treat of a midwinter bonfire an everyday experience with a stainless-steel fire pit. The gas-fired flames mean youll be spared the ashy mess left behind by wood-burning fires. Simply add socially-distanced friends, and let the campfire tales begin! Endless Summer outdoor fire pit, $170, Staples Canada(Related: 3 Tips to Help You Cope With Covid-19 Anxiety)
Keep your toes toasty
Doubling up on socks can be uncomfortableparticularly if youre planning to walk while you talk. For toasty toes (without the tight squeeze), simply toss these electric warmers into your boots a few hours before leaving the house. Once youre back home, pop them right back in again: theyll dry your now-damp footwear within hours. Indigo portable shoe/boot Dryer/warmer, $24.50, Chapters Indigo (Note: Curbside pickup only)(Related: The 8 Best Winter Boots For Your Feet, According to Podiatrists)
Build a tabletop bonfire
No room for an outdoor fire pit? No problem! This small-space-friendly campfire-in-a-tin is the next best thing to a full-blown bonfire. Just under a foot (20 cm) in diameter, the four-pound tin is filled with recycled soy wax and paper briquettes, which create an impressive flame with a five-hour burn time. To extinguish, simply replace the lid on the tin. Radiate Classic Portable Campfire, $40, Cabela’s(Related: The Ultimate Guide to Keeping Your Skin Smooth All Winter Long)
Trick your brain into feeling warmer
Sometimes, no matter how much you layer up, it simply isn’t enough to keep you comfy. Enter the Embr Wave, a smartwatch-like bracelet that, with the click of a button, creates a warming sensation on the sensitive skin on your wrist. That sensation in turn sends a signal to your brain to perceive temperature differently throughout your body. In no time, youll feel like youre gripping a warm double-doublewithout coming anywhere near the Tim Hortons drive-through. Embr Wave bracelet, $299 USD (approximately $380), Embr Labs(As Embr’s makers note, this device is intended to ease momentary discomfort from cold, and isn’t suited to prolonged exposure. Here are 12 Things That Happen to Your Body When Its Freezing Out)
Make a sound investment
Combining the cozy warmth of fluffy shearling with Bluetooth headphone technology, these stylish earmuffs are the perfect accessory for a solo outdoor walk. Cue up the latest episode of that true crime podcast you and your best friend have been obsessing over so you can share your theories the next time you get together. UGG sheepskin Bluetooth earmuffs, $125, Nordstrom(Related: 7 Ways to Cope with Loneliness While Staying Socially Distanced)
Invest in touch-screen gloves (that actually work)
Having to choose between warm hands or actually being able to use your phone is a uniquely 21st century problem. Luckily, The North Face has devised a suitably 21st-century solution. These fleece-polyester gloves guard against winters chill, while enabling touch-screen use with all five fingers, so you can pull up that hilarious TikTok for your pals in complete comfort. ETip Recycled Glove, $50, The North Face(Related: 6 Guaranteed Ways to Change Up Pandemic Life)
Dont forget that your phone gets cold, too
No, youre not just imagining ityour phone actually does lose its charge faster in the cold. Plan ahead by popping this two-in-one portable charger in your pocket: it’s equipped with two USB ports to recharge your devices on the go, while also serving as a hand-warmer when needed. Celestron ThermoCharge 10 warmer/charger, $70, MEC(Related: Why You Feel Off After Scrolling Through Your Phone or Working on a Laptop)
Bundle up in an outdoor blanket
Forget that ratty old polar fleece throw! This synthetic-down waterproof blanket is specifically designed for outdoor use, trapping your body’s own heat to keep you wonderfully warm in virtually any weather. Use the attached clip to wear it like a cape, or simply drape the blanket over your body while sitting by the fire. You can even stake the blanket to the ground to prevent it from blowing away. NanoLoft puffy blanket, from $200, Rumpl(Related: 3 Resolutions to Make for Healthy Winter Skin)
Turn any chair into a hot seat
There are few things more enjoyable than getting into a chilly car and turning on the seat warmers. Recreate that feeling just about anywhere with this cleverly-designed cushion. Place it wherever youd like to sit, and the patented insulation creates a thermal barrier that retains and reflects your own body heat. Heat-A-Seat cushion, $25, Canadian TireNext: I Had $1.11 in Savings. Heres How I Improved My Relationship With Money
The post 12 Ways to Stay Warm While Socializing Outdoors During COVID-19 appeared first on Best Health Magazine Canada.
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