Special trick to eliminate feeling chilly or cold

[JamesR]

Have you ever noticed feeling chilly in a cold room under blankets even when wearing pyjamas or clothes in bed? Especially the type of chilly that wakes you up in the middle of the night?
So as it turns out, a long time ago, I figured out that I stopped feeling chilly or waking up in the middle of the night when I stopped sleeping in clothes or pyjamas. Sleeping in my underwear solved this problem.
The reason why is actually pretty obvious. If my appendages are exposed and cold, but my torso is covered and hot, I'm sending two different signals to my body. The mixed signals just confuses the body and makes me feel chilly & miserable. It also makes it difficult for the body to accurately regulate the internal thermostat, am I too hot or too cold?
A few years ago, I was living in an apartment where I didn't want to pay for heating, I was trying to keep my costs low. It was also the middle of winter, the room temperature was likely between 5-10C (41-50F). Every time I got home from work, I felt chilly. So I got into the habit of taking off my clothes and just hanging out in my boxers.
It was shockingly effective. After 15 minutes I stop noticing any coldness. My theory is that without any conflicting messages between my appendages and my torso, the body has no trouble turning up the internal thermostat!
I'd be interested to hear if anyone else notices this. Or can confirm it after trying it out.
Thanks!

[BeyondtheWrap]

I'll stick with the bathrobe over my multi-layer pajamas, winter hat, scarf, and gloves. If I'm chilly, I find that shivering vigorously works to heat up the air inside my clothes.
I won't try your method as it would probably just make me sick (especially considering I keep a fan on in my room even during the winter). My internal thermostat doesn't work very well.

[JamesR]

Another factor I failed to mention is food. It's probably necessary to eat a bit more in order to raise the metabolism. Unless you're already fat and wanting to lose weight
They do that on the farm, the animals eat quite a bit more during winter.
@BeyondtheWrap - Any reason you're keeping the fan on during winter?

[leeholsen]

I'm jealous. Living in Houston, we never have that problem and AC in mandatory IMO for Houston summers.
but on topic, when i stay in colorado; total immersion works best for me - socks, sweatpants + sweatshirt. we're all a little different on body temps imo.

[spoonman]

I can handle almost any type of hot weather. I wish I could say the same for cold enviroments, I just get cold very easily (specially my feet. If my feet are cold, I'm miserable). The thing I do these days is just have a cup of herb tea, which sends blood to my extremities and warms up my feet.

[bluejoey]

Another one here who gets cold easily. To put it politely, nearly everyone I work with is large, and even though they sometimes complain about the cold while wearing one or two layers, I feel frigid in my room (I teach preschool in the daytime) unless I'm wearing *4* layers of clothing. So I wear 4 layers every single day. The room temperature is usually 62 or 63 degrees. I'm counting the days until I stop working there--at least for the summer.

[theanimal]

In my opinion, being cold (to a certain extent) is more of a mental and adaptability thing. I started taking cold showers a few months back and after a few weeks its no big deal. Once you get over that mental hurdle, your body adapts to welcome the change (breathing plays a large role).

[BeyondtheWrap]

@JamesR: I keep the fan on for two reasons: 1) it helps my clothes dry faster and 2) it keeps the air circulating and prevents mold.
@theanimal: "Mental and adaptability thing"? I've gotten plenty of comments from other people about my hands being cold and (when I go swimming) my lips being blue, so I know it's not all in my head. Are you saying that once you get over the mental hurdle, your body will become physically warmer?

[theanimal]

Yes. I do believe it is mental. I am partly saying that but it's also about using your breath. Take a shower at the coldest possible level. Notice your breath. I take one like that everyday..at first you'll be breathing heavy and it'll be freezing. After a month it is absolutely nothing. Your breath controls a lot more than you think..
Also, if you want to see someone who really adapted and cleared the mental hurdles. Google Wim Hof aka The Iceman

[FarmOne]

Having spent a lot of time outdoors in frigid weather (I once fed cows -40'F), I have a couple of tips to offer:
1) Stay in good aerobic condition. Better circulation resulting from aerobic exercises keeps your body warm. I'm not talking about doing jumping jacks to stay warm, rather maintaining your body in good aerobic shape to optimize your circulation.
2) Cover your head. I call it a "radiator cap".
I also believe some of it is mental. There is always a first shock like described from the cold shower routine. The same kind of transition happens when you start working outside in sub-zero temperatures. Your nose freezes and you can't breathe and then your toes freeze, but usually after a little while you adapt and become comfortable in it.

[Kalevipoeg]

I actually rather like sleeping in a cold room, 50F is lovely to wake up to under a warm blanket... But I've never acclimatized myself to living in an house that cold and strangely - although outside it often gets down to -5 degrees in the winter where I live and it takes a week or two to start feeling comfortable with that - I don't find 65F indoor temperatures becoming noticeaby more comfortable than before getting used to -5 outside...
Adopting a warrior style diet has also made it clear that food has a huge impact on how warm I feel: I can take a layer or two off when going outside after a good meal.