Find out how to beat the cold and keep your toes nice and toasty in the winter.

Every winter I fight the battle to keep my feet warm once the cold weather and snow hit, and most of the time I succeed. Frozen feet do not have to be a fact of life in the cold months. Here are a few things you can remember to help you keep your feet warm in winter.

Cold Body, Cold Feet

Your body has ways of keeping itself warm. If you’re feeling cold, your body naturally centralizes all the heat in your torso. That means the hands and feet are the first parts of the body to get cold. Keep your body warm, and you have a better chance of keeping your feet warm. Remember, most of the body’s heat leaves through the head. So wear a hat when going out.

Prevention is Best

It is much easier to keep your feet warm than it is to warm them up once they’ve become chilled. During the cold months, forget about stylish foot wear. Look for a nice snow boot or hiking boot that is made for cold weather. Wear socks made specifically for lower temperatures. Smartwool socks are my personal favorite. Every winter my husband buys me a few new pairs. They aren’t cheap, but they do the trick. You can even wear them over a regular pair of tight-fighting socks for extra warmth. If your feet become sweaty or wet, change your socks immediately. Wet feet are cold feet. And whenever you’re sitting or standing in one place, wiggle your toes to get the blood flowing and keep it moving.

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Hot Water is Your Friend

When my feet get seriously chilled and nothing seems to be working to warm them up, I resort to the old hot-water bath. Fill a large metal pan or plastic tub with water as hot as you can stand and immerse your feet. Keep them under the hot water long enough for the warmth to seep through. Dry your feet and immediately put on a pair of clean, dry socks. I even like to put my socks right in front of the heating vent and get them nice and toasty before I put them on.

If you live in the South where the weather is usually warm and you can wear flip flops year round, good for you. For the rest of us, we need every trick in the book. Hopefully some of my tips will help you keep your feet warm in winter months.