How to Stay Cozy

I’ve been using a heating pad in the winter months for years. It doesn’t matter if my back is hurting or not. I’ve always found the warmth of the heating pad incredibly comforting, especially when topped with a blanket. I put it on the highest setting and let this small electronic device cozy up my entire body.

– Bobby Forand

Get into baking, roasting, braising, or any other oven-utilizing hobby. You will get to enjoy the smell of a rising loaf of bread, winter-spiced cake, or simmering stew while also warming up your home. And the best part – you get to eat something delicious at the end!

– Gina Lerman

Wear long underwear! These days, there are more cozy base layer options than a classic red union suit with the crap flap. Get a top and a bottom layer separately for bathroom break convenience. Long-johns beneath a loose pair of pants or under your favorite sweater will keep you warm and comfortable in the frigid New England winter. Cotton, flannel, wool, poly-blend… grab a pair or two and thank me later.

– Gina Lerman

Invest in a good pair of slippers. The uglier the better. I prefer slippers designed for people with arthritis or diabetes. Slippers such as these have removable insoles and spacers, which allow you to customize the fit. They also have wonderfully wide velcro closures and slip resistant soles. They look like clown shoes and feel like pillows.

– Meg Coss

Give yourself permission to do less. One of the key foundations of coziness starts from within – giving yourself permission to be, as my mother would call it, “a bump on a log.” This can be easier said than done. I am the self-proclaimed queen of downtime but even I can start to feel guilty for an idle moment. Use winter as an excuse to go to one less party, bump up bedtime, or spend a Saturday doing a whole lotta nothin’.

– Dana Schneider

The steaming innards of a recently slain beast can prove very warm this time of year. And hot chocolate!

– Mike Ryan