Canberra are you cold AF? Survivors share their winter hacks.
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I said brr, it’s cold in here. There must be some freakishly cold Canberra winter weather in the atmosphere!
Shivering through your mornings, Canberra? Can’t wait until that sweet Canberra winter sun comes out around 9 am? We’ve all been there.
So, take some tips from us – a team with over 150 Canberra winters between us – so you can actually enjoy winter. Cause it ain’t going away anytime soon.
Beatrice Smith, Managing Editor
Suck it up (the moisture, that is)
My big problem with Canberra winters is not the weather – it’s our crummy houses that aren’t built to withstand it.
If you live anywhere built before 2000, it’s likely you’re stuck with single-pane windows that fill with condensation every morning – and this can be a real problem across winter.
It wasn’t until the dampness of my university sharehouse in Ainslie gave me tonsillitis five times in one year that I realised damp rooms can be awful for your health and that dehumidifiers can be a godsend.
The lo-fi version of this are damp-eating crystals placed strategically and checked on regularly to make sure they’re soaking up the moisture your home doesn’t need.
BYO heater
As someone with endometriosis, I’m no stranger to a good heat pack and my wearable one from Canberra’s own The Happy Uterus keeps me cosy through winter.
However, I recently discovered the magic of Deep Heat’s one-use wearable ‘heating belt‘ that gives you portable warmth for up to 12 hours. At around $10 from the pharmacy, you simply open the packet and wind the fabric around your midsection, with the pads heating to a cosy warmth within minutes. Designed to provide heat therapy to your lower back or abdomen, the single-use model isn’t great for the environment but if you’re really desperate (I was going to an AFL game mid-endo flare-up) this is great and kept me warm for a solid six hours.
Erin Cross, Online Editor
Layer like your life depends on it
My mum always told me that if your head, back and feet are warm, you can get through even the coldest of days. Well, she’s right.
Layering in winter is honestly the best (and only) way to deal with the cold – because from going between your home to the car, to the office, to the shops, to the odd outdoors adventure and back again, in one day you’ll experience such a varying degree of temperatures ranging from freezing to toasty that I can guarantee you’ll get sick (side note: why are offices always SO COLD?!).
There’s a reason Canberrans have so many jackets, so embrace layering and invest in a good winter wardrobe. A pair of gloves, and a beanie will save your extremities on a cold day (and they can look super cute) while popping on a thermal long sleeve shirt under a jumper will help protect you from the icy-wind. And yes, a puffer jacket is worth it. Trust me.
Keep your feet warm and fuzzy
I live in my UGG boots at home during the winter. In fact, coming home from work and ripping off my shoes and swapping them for my warm and comfortable slippers is one of my favourite parts of the day. So imagine my excitement when I found out that UGG makes sheepskin insoles.
I slip mine into everything from sneakers to boots and they make all the difference on a cold day. Just as comfortable as wearing your UGG boots, the thick, plush inner layers shape themselves to your feet, they’re super soft and most importantly, they’re moisture-wicking, ensuring your feet stay dry and cosy in winter.
It’s literally like wearing your slippers to work.
Georgie Smith, Digital Content Producer
Your skin needs love too!
We often forget how dry it can be for our skin in the cooler months. For me, I tend to get eczema flare-ups on my face in particular. I combat this with a range of products whilst keeping up my water intake (grab those Stanley cups and Frank Green bottles). What works for me, may not work for you so make sure you do your research before trying any new products.
Glow Recipe Cloudberry Essence Toner
Packed with Vitamin C & E, the Cloudberry concentrate works to reduce dark spots whilst hydrating dull, dehydrated skin. It’s the ideal first step in the morning, working as a toner/serum all in one.
I’ve been using this for a few months now and I can honestly say it has brought life back to my skin and has kept dark spots away. I love the plumping yet cooling effect, and for an eczema-prone gal, the fragrance has not bothered me once.
I have used this cream since I was 16 and it still comes in clutch. It’s simple yet rich in texture, has no fragrance and just does the job. If you find yourself reacting to the climate, this is perfect tub of gold to get you back on track.
Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil for Face
This may be dramatic, but this oil changed for life. It smells great and really adds that extra level of hydration before bedtime. I like to Gua Sha afterwards for a plump and refreshed feel.
Amanda Whitley, HC Founder + Editor-in-Chief
Seek heat
Look, I loathe cold weather so it’s kinda ironic I ended up loving Canberra and living here pretty much all of my adult life.
I also suffer from Raynauds’s syndrome which means I spend a good three months of the year having to keep my extremities from losing feeling. To combat this, I have a pair of rechargeable hand warmers that plug into any USB socket and warm me up a treat – Hot Hands are also great (but less environmentally friendly).
Warm up from the inside out
Further to Erin’s ode to layering, I must sing the praises of UNIQLO’s Heattech range – the scoop neck tops are light yet ridiculously toasty and are thin enough to wear under many outer layers without making you look like the Michelin man.
Find your bolthole
I know it can be tempting to hibernate when we reach peak winter, but that can also be lonely. Instead, find yourself a cosy place to eat or drink (we’ve named scores of them over the years), order yourself a warming drink or bowl or pasta, and forget about the chill outside. Until it’s time to leave, that is.
Emma Macdonald, Associate Editor
First, you should plan to leave Canberra between June and July.
Second, you should get warm cats who sit on you.
Third, you can get heated blankets to huddle under whenever you aren’t having a hot bath or lying in bed with the electric blanket on 10.
