Relocation can be good for the soul and an excellent opportunity to make changes in your life and lifestyle. In the summer of 2014, my family and I moved from Florida, where I’m a native, to Bozeman, Montana. My husband is from Wisconsin, so he had an idea of what we were getting into with a move to a much colder climate, but I was trusting that if others could do it, so could I. Learning how to keep warm was the key to my enjoying Montana throughout the year. We have never regretted our move to Big Sky Country, but as a Florida native, I had some adjustments to make to embrace our new life. Here are ten tips for keeping warm in this beautiful place we call home.
- Buy flannel sheets for all your beds. When the days are shorter, the dark arrives early, and you are trying to shake off the cold, wrapping yourself in flannel sheets at night makes for a cozy and warm end to the day. Think about your favorite flannel shirt for your whole body.
- Program your thermostat to raise the temperature a couple of degrees before your morning alarm sounds. We keep our thermostat at 63 degrees at night because the cold makes for better sleeping, but you have to get out of bed eventually. Raising the temperature a couple of degrees will help.
- Layering your clothes is the most effective method of dressing, and for that reason, I wear an undershirt/cami almost every day of the year. Daily temperature swings of 40 degrees are not uncommon in Bozeman, and layers will help you accommodate for that. While cotton is excellent for flannel sheets, it holds moisture and is ineffective at keeping you warm as a clothing fabric. Make sure that your outer layer is a synthetic fabric that will keep you toasty. LLBean, Eddie Bauer, and many of our local shops are great resources for clothes with the technology to keep you warm.
- Shoes should be sturdy and insulated with extra lining and a thicker sole. Many times shoes will have warmth technology and there will be a temperature range on the tag. Wool socks are best.
- Keeping your head and neck covered is key. Wearing a hat may not be fashionable, and we won’t discuss what it does to your hairstyle, but keeping warm is the priority here. Never underestimate the power of a good beanie, especially the ones with a lining, to keep your head warm and dry. A scarf covers your neck and adds an extra layer to your chest. It’s also your best opportunity to add a bit of fashion to your ensemble.
- Longer, knee-length coats that cover your rear end are always the warmest. The medium-weight puffy coats will be perfect almost every day, but you’ll want to have at least one heavy coat in your closet in case you are outside for an extended length of time or for our below-zero days.
- Costco is your friend for many reasons, and included on that list is that they are an excellent source for inexpensive, quality, seasonal clothes. Again, high fashion is not the goal. Target and Walmart are perfect for kids’ clothes that will be quickly outgrown or easily lost.
- If you are going to be outside, lined pants or pants made of a fabric with a tight weave will keep your body heat in and the wind and cold out.
- Never leave home without a coat, hat, gloves, scarf, and warm shoes. A situation that may be an inconvenience in a warmer climate can quickly become an emergency in Montana. i.e., your car breaks down or slides off the road. You need to be prepared at all times. Check out this link to create an emergency kit to keep in your car.
- A cup of hot water with lemon is the drink that warms me up from the inside the quickest, and holding the mug thaws my hands. Caffeine can constrict the capillaries in your hands and feet, making you colder in the long run.
Many new warmth technologies are integrated into clothes and outerwear, and investing in some of them will go a long way to helping you adapt to your new life in Montana. Once you figure out dressing for winter, get outside to experience all that living in Montana offers.