Stay Comfortable In Your Freezing (Or Sweltering) Office

The words “comfortable” and “office” rarely go together, and if they do it’s usually because it’s the punchline of the joke. Everyone has heard jokes about sweltering offices and freezing workspaces, and unfortunately they’re not too far from the truth. Everyone has had to deal with working in an ice cold office in the summer, or a sweltering office in the winter. People working in IT or in server rooms are almost always freezing, and those having to sit by vents will always be a little sweaty by the time lunch rolls around.

Unless you work in a private office that has an individual thermostat, you’re probably not going to have the perfect temperature at work. You can’t adjust the entire building to suit your needs, but there are a few things you can do to stop freezing or sweating in the office.

Use a heating pad

Your heating pad probably stays in the back of your closet until there’s a pulled muscle, but it could help you stay warm in your freezing office. A heating pad can be a discreet and comfortable way to avoid being too cold in an office with a powerful AC. You could prop it up against your back, drape it over your lap, or even sit on it. If you don’t sit near a power outlet, look for one that can run on batteries.

Switch from earbuds to big headphones

If you’re freezing at the office, the last thing you’re concerned about are your ears. This may sound strange, but you can lose a lot of body heat from your ears. You can’t wear earmuffs at the office, but if your boss is okay with headphones, you may want to save your earbuds for the gym and switch to headphones that cover your ears. They can help keep you warm, and can be a handy way to avoid loud distractions.

Stay hydrated

Your office is sweltering in the winter, but you need to wear weather appropriate clothing. You may not be able to show up to the office in shorts or a sundress when you know it’s going to be hot inside, but there is a simple way to keep your body temperature down. A nice chilled bottle of water can do wonders for keeping you cool. If you tend to sweat a lot, you have the added benefit of replenishing any fluids you may have sweat out.

Get a small heater

If you feel like you’re freezing at work, it’s safe to assume other coworkers near you feel the same. If your work will allow it, consider getting coworkers together to chip in for an electric heater rental. A nice heater that can keep a few cubicles or desks warm can keep everyone happy.