Why do I get cold indoors

Short answer: Indoors you move very little, so the body produces less heat. Feet and upper body lose heat first, and one more thin layer usually solves it. Starting with your feet is often enough.

Desk work cools the body

Without movement, the muscles produce almost no heat. When you sit still at a desk or on the sofa for hours, your own heat production falls, and you slowly start to feel cold even though the room is not. That is why many people feel colder on a quiet afternoon indoors than on a walk outside. See bamboo bras.

Get up now and then

A short break where you stand up, walk around the room or fetch a glass of water gets the muscles going again. It does not need to be much. A few minutes of movement each hour can be enough to keep the body warmer. It is a good habit for your back and neck too.

The feet lose heat first

The feet are furthest from the body's core and cool fastest. When the body needs to save heat, it sends less blood to the hands and feet and keeps it around the vital organs. Cold feet therefore give a feeling of cold that spreads through the whole body. See bamboo socks.

The floor draws heat away

A cold floor draws heat from the feet, especially if you walk barefoot or in thin socks. Thicker socks or slippers with a sole make a clear difference. If you have tiles or a floor without underfloor heating, this is one of the first places to act.

One more thin layer is enough

A layer under your clothes is worth around two degrees in how warm you feel. It is as noticeable as turning up the heating. A thin layer close to the skin holds the warmth the body makes itself, without feeling bundled up. See bamboo sweatshirts for women.

The upper body comes next

Once the feet are warm, the upper body is the next place to look. The chest and back hold many of the body's organs, and keeping them warm matters. A thin top under a sweatshirt, or a cardigan you can take on and off, lets you adjust through the day.

Several layers rather than one thick one

Several thin layers are easier to adjust than one thick one. Warm up, and you take one off. Cool down, and you put it back on. The air between layers also holds heat. A thick layer can get too warm, and then you sweat and feel cold afterwards.

If you are always cold

Some people feel the cold more than others, and that is often quite normal. But if you feel very cold even when you move and are dressed warmly, there may be other causes. Then it is a good idea to talk to your doctor, who can judge whether anything should be looked at more closely.

Frequently asked questions

Why do you feel cold indoors

Because you move very little. Without movement the muscles produce almost no heat, and the body slowly cools down over the course of the day.

Where should you start

With the feet. They are furthest from the body's core, cool fastest, and cold feet give a feeling of cold through the whole body.

How much does an extra layer help

Around two degrees in how warm you feel. A thin layer under your clothes is as noticeable as turning up the heating in the room.