When you travel from heat to cold

Short answer: The trip home from the heat is harder than the trip out. Your body has adapted to warmth, and the same five degrees feel far colder than when you left, so pack your outer layers on top and give yourself a few days.

The way home is the hard part

When you travel towards the heat, it is easy to take clothes off. When you travel home to the cold, you need to put clothes on, and they have to be within reach. Many people only think about the outbound trip when packing and end up at the airport with their winter clothes at the bottom of the suitcase.

Your body has lost its adaptation

After two weeks in the heat, your body has got used to shedding warmth. The same five degrees that felt normal before you left now feel like frost. You have not become more sensitive to cold for good, your body just needs to adjust again. A soft warm layer makes the change easier. See bamboo sweatshirts for women.

Keep outer layers within reach

Pack your winter clothes at the top of the suitcase, not the bottom. You should be able to reach them at the airport without spreading everything on the floor. Better still, keep a warm layer in your carry on so you can put it on during the flight as the cabin cools on the way north.

Change before you walk outside

Before you leave the airport, it is worth changing from summer clothes into something with long sleeves and long legs. A toilet after baggage claim is the easiest place. Do not stand shivering at the bus stop in shorts. A few minutes in the airport saves you a cold start to everyday life at home.

Your feet notice it first

After two weeks in sandals, closed shoes and cold floors come as a shock. Your feet have got used to air and warmth and react quickly to the cold. Put a pair of socks in your carry on so you can wear them on the plane. Soft warm socks make more difference than you might expect. See most popular for women.

Cold floors at home

When you get home, the house has often been cold for a couple of weeks. The floors are chilly, and it takes time for the rooms to warm up. Have a soft set and a pair of socks ready so you can change as soon as you are inside. Turn on the heating straight away and give it time.

Three to five days

It usually takes three to five days to get used to the cold again. Your body has to rebuild its tolerance to cold, and that is slower than going the other way. Dress a little warmer than usual in the first days, and scale back once you feel your body has adjusted.

Layers instead of one thick jacket

In the first days back you often move between cold streets and warm rooms. Several thin layers are easier to adjust than one thick jacket. A long sleeved layer under a top can come off indoors and go back on outside. See all womens clothing for soft everyday layers.

Frequently asked questions

Why does coming home feel so cold

Because your body has adapted to the heat. The same five degrees feel much colder than before you left, and it takes a few days to adjust again.

Where should winter clothes go in the suitcase

On top. You should be able to reach them at the airport without unpacking the whole suitcase on the floor, and a warm layer in your carry on is even better.

How long does it take to adjust again

Three to five days. Your body has to rebuild its tolerance to cold, and that takes longer than going the other way.