Clothes for early morning shifts

Short answer: At four in the morning your body is at its coldest, and the house has not warmed up yet. The first two hours are the hardest, and those are the ones your clothes need to solve, with a layer you can remove later.

The body is coldest early

Body temperature bottoms out around four in the morning, however warm it is. That is why you can feel cold even when the room is not. Start the day with an extra layer, even if it feels like too much when you get up. A soft hoodie is quick to put on and take off. See the bamboo hoodie for women.

The house is not warm yet

The heating is turned down at night, and the floor is cold. That applies at home before you leave and often at work too, where the heating comes on later. Warm socks and a close-fitting inner layer make the first hours more comfortable. See the most popular pieces for women for your regular morning set.

A layer to remove at eight

Once the day gets going, you warm up. Movement, light and warmth in the building make the extra layer too much. Choose a layer that is easy to take off and leave in a locker or over a chair. Then you are not wearing too much for the rest of the shift. See the most popular pieces from Copenhagen Bamboo.

Feet first

Warm feet change the whole feel of a cold morning more than anything else. Cold floors draw heat out through the soles, and when your feet are cold, your whole body feels cold. Put your socks on first when you get up, and wear a good pair for the shift itself. It is a small thing with a big effect.

Layers rather than one thick jumper

A thin inner layer, a mid layer and an outer layer for outside give more options than one thick jumper. When you warm up, you remove the outer one, and later perhaps the mid layer too. With one thick jumper you only choose between too warm and too cold. Layers let you follow the temperature through the shift.

The trip to work

The trip to work at four or five is often the coldest part of the day. The air is cold, and your body has not got going yet. Wear an outer layer for the journey that you can take off when you arrive. If you cycle, remember the cold feels sharper with speed, especially on hands and neck.

Lay out clothes the night before

At four in the morning it is nice not to have to think. Lay out your clothes the evening before, in the order you put them on: socks, inner layer, mid layer and outer layer. Then you can dress in half light without waking anyone, and you will not forget the extra layer you need for the first hours.

Breaks and food

An early shift often means breakfast is eaten early or on the way. A warm meal or a hot drink in the first break helps the body get going. Put a layer back on during the break if you stand still or go outside. The body cools faster when you are not moving.

Frequently asked questions

Why do you feel coldest early in the morning

Because body temperature bottoms out around four, and most houses are coldest just before dawn, after the heating has been turned down.

What should you wear for an early shift

An extra layer for the first two hours, which you can remove once the day gets going and your body warms up by itself.

What helps most

Warm feet. A good pair of socks changes the whole feel of a cold morning more than anything else you can put on.