A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

14 Winter Survival Tips from the Coldest Parts of the Country

How to brave (and enjoy!) the bitter cold at its worst—from those who know it best.

Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.

1 / 14
Stretching after great workout. Young beautiful young woman in sportswear doing stretching while standing in front of window at gym
F8 studio/Shutterstock

Start your day early

Bozeman, Montana resident Melissa Moran doesn’t let temperatures in the teens or dark skies deter her early morning workout. She goes to spin class at 5:30 a.m. three days per week in the winter, no matter how cold it is outside. “My mental clarity is simply better after an early morning workout. I don’t care how cold it is (outside),” she says. “I went to an afternoon class last week and it just wasn’t the same. When I work out in the morning, I’m more focused throughout the day—on what I eat, etc. It gets me on a routine and a schedule that I can follow.” All of this, she says, ultimately makes her a happier, better mom and wife—which, if nothing else, just might be the only motivation we all need to get ourselves out of bed on the darkest winter days. Here’s how to stay safe in the coldest of temps.

2 / 14
Mittens on wood background
alexat25/Shutterstock

Replace your gloves with mittens

Switch to really nice thick mittens, advises Michigan resident Teca Shorter. Though you will give up dexterity, if your activity allows for it, “Mittens tend to be warmer than gloves because your fingers generate more heat when they’re not separated from each other by fabric, as they are with gloves,” according to REI.com. Here are more ways to keep your hands—and feet—as warm as possible this winter.

3 / 14
hand holding hand warmer in car
stockphotofan1/Shutterstock

Add hand warmers for instant heat

Scott Seiberg, owner of veteran-owned junk removal service JDog Buffalo South in New York, says hand warmers are a staple in his truck during the winter months. “When your hands get cold, you lose the dexterity in your fingers. We lift heavy things all day long so we need to be able to use our hands,” he says. “They’re a great extra heat source to put inside your winter boots, too.” You can buy HotHands in bulk on Amazon.

4 / 14
Pairing of turquoise vest and brown bag. Stylish layering of clothing for winter season. Women's fashion.
margostock/Shutterstock

Dress in layers

Seiberg says layers are key to staying comfortable in the winter despite major temperature shifts from indoor to outdoor environments. While Buffalo’s average low is about 20 degrees in January, Seiberg says his crew will often go from 10 to 70 degrees in a matter of minutes while on a residential job. “Once you start to sweat, you have to get your layers off quickly so your clothes don’t freeze,” he says. “I start out with long johns and pants. Then, I’ll throw on a t-shirt, sweatshirt and two hats. I’ll wear a knit hat with a baseball cap and switch them out during the day.” Here are more strategies to layering for warmth—and style—in winter.

5 / 14
Woman in Boots on rainy autumn day.
Africa Studio/Shutterstock

Buy waterproof footwear

“I get a new pair of waterproof tennis shoes every two years,” Moran says. Seiberg agrees. “I always wear waterproof boots. You get your feet wet, you’re done.” Want to increase the longevity of your footwear? Follow these tips to keep your shoes in tip-top shape from day one.

6 / 14

Invest in a quality thermos

Research says we can actually be perceived as happier and more approachable when we hold hot beverages. And few things are as soothing as a hot cup of coffee or tea in the wintertime. If you bring your drink on the go, consider transferring it to a thermos for extended warmth. Charity Tapp, a barista at Java Moose Espresso Cafe in Grand Marais, Minnesota, says a quality thermos is the single best way to keep any drink hot for a long period of time. She recommends the Hydro Flask.

7 / 14
Slices of orange wooden bowl on wooden table. Top view. Toned
algae/Shutterstock

Eat your vitamin D

“We don’t see as much sun during the winter, so it’s important to take in more of those sunshine vitamins with what we eat,” Ashley Lariscy, director of nursing at BrightStar Care’s Novi division in Farmington Hills, Michigan, says. (According to AccuWeather, the Farmington Hills area sees average temperatures that fall between 15 and 20 degrees in January.) “Foods like tuna, salmon, and oranges are great, or even oatmeal with some sort of fresh, frozen fruit.”

8 / 14
A car under the snow
Dutourdumonde Photography/Shutterstock

If you’re expecting snow, park your car outwardly facing the street

Lori Nissen, Minneapolis, Minnesota resident and Lutsen, Minnesota cabin owner, says she always reminds her kids to park their cars outwardly facing the hill of their driveway, especially when they’re dealing with a steep or L-shaped driveway. According to Nissen, it’s easier to drive straight up the hill instead of reversing down it beforehand. “If it snows overnight and your car’s parked facing the street, it makes it a lot easier to make a run for it (the hill),” she says. Plus, with January temperatures in Lutsen that drop to -5, ice is another factor Nissen and her family can’t ignore. Follow this checklist to make sure your car is fully prepped to take on the iciest of winter roads.

9 / 14
Photo of various green cactus and succulent plants in pots on a windowsill. Decorative indoor plants photo.
Nadeene/Shutterstock

Bake a cake or plant a garden

“The smell of baked goods brings everyone to a lovely place,” Lariscy says. “It’s important to find time for things that trigger soothing memories when it’s cold out. I’m also huge on plants in the home, especially during the winter. A windowsill with an indoor herb garden is a great way to brighten up anyone’s day.” Here’s how to bring the spirit of winter into your own home.

10 / 14
Portrait of happy black woman talking on mobile phone
mimagephotography/Shutterstock

Pick up the phone

It’s easy (and only natural) for most of us to hibernate when it’s cold out. But don’t be a stranger. “We tend to spend more time indoors during the winter but it’s important to etch out some extra time for socializing,” Lariscy says. “People underestimate the power of a phone call.”

11 / 14
Photo album with black-and-white pictures of senior couple.
Halfpoint/Shutterstock

Find new sources of warmth and comfort

Kris LeDonne, Whippany, New Jersey resident, endures temperatures in January as low as 10 degrees. LeDonne says her greatest source of comfort on such cold days comes from her role as a pro services executive for photo and video digitization company Legacy Republic. As a pro services executive, LeDonne facilitates this process for families living in New Jersey—and helps them recreate, remember and relive their most treasured family memories in the process. “Delivering comfort brings me comfort,” she says. “It’s been such an amazing experience to see loved ones come together to share meaningful memories with Legacy Republic’s Studio. The warmth and comfort that comes from reliving, protecting and sharing these legacy moments with families is incredible,” she says. “It’s like that favorite movie I could watch over and over again.”

12 / 14
Hockey stick and puck on natural ice. Legs of hockey player.
Julija Erofeeva/Shutterstock

Bundle up and play

If there’s anything we can learn from those who brave the coldest temperatures and most extreme winter weather conditions, it’s to embrace them. The Great Northern, an annual tradition in the Twin Cities, celebrates all things winter with three of Minnesota’s most valued seasonal festivals: the City of Lakes Loppet, the Saint Paul Winter Carnival and the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships. Events range from cross-country ski races to snow sculpting contests, pond hockey tournaments, giant snow slides and more. This year’s celebration—which runs from January 25 to February 4—will even feature a 70-foot tall ice palace. “The Great Northern is all about welcoming winter and proudly sharing our most cherished traditions with neighbors and newcomers,” John Munger, co-founder of The Great Northern, says. “Winter is a defining characteristic of Minnesota, and we’re proud of it.” So put on your warmest winter coat and join the fun (here are the best plus-size winter coats). Don’t miss these destinations that are even better in the winter.

13 / 14
man opens the plastic window with forest view
quadshock/Shutterstock

Crack open a window

Lariscy says we’re at greater risk for illness during the winter due to large indoor gatherings without much ventilation. She says it’s helpful to crack open a door or window for a breath of fresh air every once in a while, even if it seems counterintuitive. “It’s healthy to let that fresh air in and take a nice, deep breath,” she says.

14 / 14
Black night sky plenty of stars with Great Bear
Nadezhda Bolotina/Shutterstock

Look up

Lutsen, Minnesota resident and co-owner of the area’s treasured Lockport Marketplace, Nan Plude-Bradley, used to spend the holidays winter camping with her family along the Gunflint Trail in northern Minnesota. Temperatures would frequently drop below zero and anywhere from one to two inches of ice would decorate the walls of their tent—but the striking beauty of the winter night sky, she says, made the freezing temperatures entirely worth it. “The night sky is so crystal clear in the winter,” she says. “It doesn’t matter how warm or cold it is out. When you’re out there and it’s late at night, you can hear a pin drop—it is just so still and beautiful.”

Lauren Bettenga
Lauren Bettenga is a contributing writer for Reader’s Digest covering Culture, Advice, Travel and Home Improvement. Her work has also been published in Country Living, The Pioneer Woman and Business Insider, among other outlets. She earned a BA in Journalism from the University of Minnesota and is a graduate of the NYU Summer Publishing Institute.