Brits have a variety of unusual ways to keep warm include dancing and building a blanket fort – but don’t share them with others
A survey of 2,000 adults revealed that 37% have their own unique methods for staying warm. The majority, eight out of ten, turn to comfort food for warmth, but others have adopted more unusual techniques.
These include stuffing newspapers or cardboard into their clothes, carrying a hot jacket potato in their pocket, using the heat from their laptop while working, or simply snuggling up with their partner for body heat.
The study also found that 12% build a blanket fort to ward off the cold, and 13% dance around to get their blood circulating.
Interestingly, the survey revealed that 21% of people who use these unconventional methods to beat the cold keep them a ‘secret’ for fear of being considered strange.
The research was commissioned by PepsiCo, which is launching limited edition Extra Flamin’ Hot Walkers Crisps and an online store – ‘Temp Drop Shop’ – on TikTok.
The store will feature spicy collaborations with UpCircle lip balm, Ginsters sausage rolls, and Doughlicious cookie dough & gelato bites. However, orders can only be placed from 29th January after 4pm – when the sun sets and the temperature falls.
Rob Pothier, spokesperson for Extra Flamin’ Hot, commented: “Nobody likes the start of the year. It’s dark, gloomy and cold, so it’s no wonder Brits are using quirky techniques to stay warm.”
“That’s why we wanted to bring the heat the best way we could for anyone looking to spice up their winter in completely unexpected ways.”
A sizeable 39% of people reckon that tucking into something with a bit of a kick is the perfect method to get warm, favouring fiery dishes like curry (30%), a steaming pot of instant noodles (14%) and even daring to nibble on a chilli pepper solo.
And for those who love a bit of piquancy, 21% wish more of their bland meals had an extra punch of flavour with Spaghetti Bolognese (29%), chips (28%) and sausage rolls (25%) topping the list of dishes they’d love to jazz up.
15 WACKY WAYS BRITS STAY WARM:
- Putting on an absurd number of layers of clothes
- Get into bed with your partner
- Cuddling your pet which doubles up as a personal heater
- Eating spicy foods
- Working with laptop actually on your lap
- Dancing enthusiastically to warm up
- Building a blanket fort and staying inside it
- Wearing a onesie under your clothes
- Running around with your dog
- Cuddling a rice heat pack
- Rubbing in ‘deep heat’ like it’s body lotion
- Wrapping yourself in bubble wrap
- Using hot jacket potatoes as pocket-hand-warmers
- Heating up clothes in the microwave
- Stuffing pockets with newspaper or cardboard