Written by Shalabieh
Amman 's bitter colds go straight through to your bones. The cold dry winds take all the warmth away with them even if the sun comes out. The chills stay with you no matter what you do or what you wear. So I've learned to do a few things to survive the cold Ammani winters that are cost effective and easy to do.
1- Invest in a good water bottle. A simple little thing you can carry around with you where ever you go and can sit in your lap, on your feet, behind your back and definitely can be a great bed mate.
2- Buy a small fleece blanket and put it under your sheet. This creates a nice warm blanket sandwich with out you being too warm and over heating since it is separated from your body by a nice cotton sheet.
3- Soak your cold feet in warm water. Give them a warm bath and feel your body temperature rise and the warmth radiate into your bones. However, the trick with this is to put on socks immediately after you dry your feet.
4- Cover your head. A shawl, beanie, wool hat, 7ata... anything will do. If your heat is covered you will loose less body heat and thus stay warm.
5- Insulate your windows and doors. This is a one time thing you do in the beginning of winter, after which your home will be at least 2 or 3 degrees warmer if not more. Get some clear masking tape the big thick kind and seal the sides of your window. This way warm air doesn’t escape and cold air doesn’t enter the room. Alternatively you can get some thick clear plastic and cover the whole window creating a cheap alternative to double glazing. With this trick always remember to leave at least one side of the window accessible to open for when you need fresh air.
6- Put up curtains and lay down carpets. The more fabrics you have the more they insulate and absorb the cold. This is also a one time investment and they can be removed in the summer to keep the house nice and cool.
7- Let the sun in, open your shutters and curtains when the sun is up and coming in to a room and then close them when it is gone. Think green house effect.
8- If you have a lot of rooms with doors you usually keep open – CLOSE THEM. The less space your heaters have to heat the fast and more efficient and effective they are.
9- Wear the right clothing. Get some thermal socks, and wear warmer fabrics. Silk for example is a light and thin fabric but can keep you amazingly warm and aren’t so bulky.
10- Eat and drink hearty foods, soups and teas. If your body is well fed with the right foods it is able to deal with cold more effectively then if you aren't looking after it. Some of my favorite things to enjoy in the winter are soups and hot herbal teas.
Stay warm, and enjoy the rest of the winter and protect your self and your loved ones with these simple warming tricks and tips.
Food & Drink
