We hate winter: 10 ways to stay warm

When I was seven, my brother and I went to a neighbour's house after school. After a two-block trek through the snow, we piled our snowsuits into the corner and ran to the kitchen, where she was waiting with a pot of hot chocolate warming on the stove. Perched on her bar stools, warming up with a cup of hot chocolate -- mini-marshmallows and all -- seemed like the best thing in the world. It still does.

If you're a winter-hater like me, you're always looking for ways to stay warm. We've collected advice from those on the frontlines -- ice carvers, extreme sports enthusiasts, and Winnipeggers of all kinds -- to settle on the top ten ways to warm up this winter and enjoy the season.

1. Winter-proof your outfits
Dress for the weather. Jeff Crook, a product manager in charge of buying long underwear for Mountain Equipment Co-op, explains that you'll want at least three layers to avoid overheating. A base made of a synthetic fabric, ideally polyester, wicks moisture away from your skin. A mid layer, such as a down vest or a fleece jacket, insulates your body. If you're not doing intense activity, this is what you'll depend on to keep warm. Finally, add windproof, waterproof, or whatever-proof outerwear and you'll be toasty even when it's -20 C.

2. Buy a box heater
How can an office be so cold in the summer -- and still so cold in the winter, when the air conditioner has long been turned off? Perhaps it's the three-piece suits that set the thermostats. A box heater costs about $30 at your local drug or hardware store, and it'll keep you from having to type with frozen digits.

3. Wear a hat
Crook's hobbies include winter camping and ice climbing, and the Mountain Equipment Co-op he works at is, not surprisingly, filled with similar adventurers. But it's not their parkas his colleagues cherish. "It's kind of an adage around (the office) that everybody's got a hat with them all the time," he says. "The single most versatile piece you can carry is a quality toque."

4. Buy quality footwear
Joseph de Maria is the owner and founder of Royal de Maria wines, a Niagara ice wine vineyard. That means he sends workers out at 2 a.m. to pick frozen grapes -- and it must be at least -8C to begin the icewine harvest. They keep warm because it's an active job, but one thing can thwart them: bad boots. "I don't care how fast you're moving," de Maria explains. "If you have cold feet, you're done."

5. Be a snowbird
If you can't tolerate the frigid wind and slippery, slushy sidewalks, escape from it all. Sean Shannon, managing director of Expedia.ca, says cultural vacations are trendy. "A lot of people are just discovering about vacations where you can get your sun, as well as the culture, the history, and the language." Non-traditional hot spots include the south of Spain, Portugal, Greece, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia.

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6. Stay in by the fire
You know all those romantic songs about being forced to stay over by a blizzard? Get inspired and plan a date night in. Rent a movie, start a fire, and snuggle up to a soundtrack of "Baby, It's Cold Outside," "Winter Wonderland," and "Let It Snow."

7. Wear long johns to work
My friend works outdoors as a tour guide in Montreal, but never minds the cold. She finally revealed her secret: long johns. It's easy to layer your tops, but most people ignore the bottom. Feel like long johns go with outhouses? Go for a thick pair of tights instead.

8. Stay well
"Don't keep pushing," advises Anne Katz, a clinical specialist nurse with a background in women's health. Avoid the flu by sleeping enough, exercising, and eating well. Other than that, Katz says your best bet to staying flu-free involves, "hand washing, hand washing, hand washing!"

9. Exercise
The easiest way to keep warm is to be active -- even if that's just a lunchtime walk with a friend. If you're really active, avoid overdressing, which will make you sweat later on. Expect to be chilly for the first 10 minutes of your workout but you should warm up quickly thereafter.

10. If all else fails...embrace it
Keep a positive attitude. "I just looked out my window, and the sun is shining off the snow. It's January, and it'll be over soon. We have to appreciate what we have," says Katz.

If you're ready to form a better relationship with Canadian winters, check out 10 reasons to love winter for inspiration.

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