Staying warm

Another level of care I've learned to give myself is that of staying warm. I used to be forever under dressing, coming back home with an ache in the back of my neck or aching legs after a chilly outing.

My doctor taught me that when my body is trying to stay warm it is using energy and lots of little muscles are tightening to hold the hair up on my body to keep it warm. Sure enough when I started being more conscientious and adding layers I notice a difference.

I've grown my hair long enough to cover the back of my neck and I always carry a long scarf and buy jackets and coats with hoods.

I wear long underwear or thin exercise pants underneath my regular pants and am able to even walk in the cold with that and my long coat covering my legs. However I even wear them in the house and everywhere I go in the winter.  Sometimes the house is a little drafty and I never realize the effects of my legs trying to stay warm until it's too late.  So it's become a habit.

I like to sleep with a window open, so not only do I have several layers of cover, but I also make sure my legs are covered down to the ankle with warm pajama bottoms.

The way I figure it this has another good affect on my body.  Any excess energy that may have been used to stay warm can now be used to heal!