How to Stay Truly Warm This Winter

Southern Ontario is having a truly cold winter. Not the kind where a thicker sweater does the trick, but the kind that settles into your bones and lingers. Staying warm right now is not about one magic item. It is about layering habits that support your body from the inside out.

Here are grounded and genuinely effective ways to stay truly warm this winter.

1. Layer with wool and protect the extremities

Wool is unmatched for cold weather. It insulates even when damp, regulates temperature, and allows your body to breathe. Wool base layers and socks create warmth that feels steady rather than stifling.

Warmth is built in layers. A breathable base, an insulating middle layer and a protective outer layer work together far better than one heavy piece. Trapped air between layers is what keeps heat close to the body.

Cold hands, feet, ears, and neck can make your entire body feel chilled. Wool socks, scarves, hats, and mittens are not just accessories. They are essential. Keeping the extremities warm allows the body to conserve heat more efficiently. The neck, chest, and lower back are especially important. A scarf, high collar or an extra layer around the core can dramatically change how warm you feel overall.

Warmth also starts from the ground up at home. Cold floors quietly pull heat from the body over time. Wool slippers, thick socks or even a rug underfoot can make a surprising difference, especially if you work from home or spend long stretches indoors.

2. Choose warming foods and drinks

Certain spices create a gentle internal heat and support circulation. Ginger, cinnamon, clove, cardamom and black pepper are simple additions that make a noticeable difference. Add them to tea, coffee, oatmeal or soups for warmth that lasts.

Cold weather is also a good time to leave iced drinks behind. Warm beverages support digestion and help the body stay regulated when temperatures drop.

Warm and hydrating foods matter just as much. Broths, soups, and stews deliver heat while supporting hydration. Bone broth in particular provides minerals and nourishment that feel grounding in winter. Choose meals that are cooked, slow simmered, and served warm whenever possible.

3. Eat enough protein and healthy fats

Winter is not the time to undereat. Protein and fats help stabilize blood sugar and support sustained warmth. Think eggs, slow cooked meats, beans, root vegetables cooked in tallow, butter or olive oil and rich soups. A well nourished body stays warmer more easily.

4. Get the blood pumping

Circulation is key to staying warm. Gentle movement throughout the day helps generate internal heat and keeps warmth moving through the body. Walking, stretching, and light strength work all support circulation without feeling taxing.

Heat exposure can also help. Sauna sessions, warm baths and hot showers followed by cozy (wool) layers can make winter feel far more manageable.

5. Prioritize sleep and rest

Sleep plays a quiet but essential role in how warm you feel. When the body is overtired or under rested, circulation and temperature regulation suffer. You may notice cold hands and feet more easily, deeper chills or a harder time warming up even when layered.

Winter naturally calls for more rest. Longer nights and lower light are cues for the nervous system to slow down. Honouring that rhythm by going to bed a little earlier, keeping evenings calmer and protecting consistent sleep can make a noticeable difference in how your body holds warmth.

Rest during the day matters too. Pausing, sitting near a window with sunlight or taking short breaks away from screens helps conserve energy that would otherwise be lost to stress. A well rested body is better able to circulate heat, digest food efficiently and stay warm without effort.

Staying truly warm is not about fighting winter. It is about working with it. Supporting your body with the right materials, foods, rhythms, and rest can turn even the coldest Southern Ontario days into something slower, steadier, and more comfortable.