How can I keep warm at my desk?

Elsie
by Elsie
Help. I work at my Desk that is on ceramic tile on cement floor with 3 walls surround it. How can I keep my feet warm? Heat vents are on the ceiling, Costly to run Space heater all day long. Thank you for any help!
  20 answers
  • Becky Miller Becky Miller on Jan 09, 2017

    My house is up off the ground in the middle of rice fields. The floors are insulated, but the north wind just whistles dixie out here....so when I sit at my desk, I wrap my legs and feet in a quilt throw. It works for a while, but when the cold comes on, I get up and walk around a few. Have a great day!

  • Elsie Elsie on Jan 09, 2017

    Thank you Becky. I do use a blanket but it is a mess because I have to get up often so I am constantly rearranging the blanket.

    Elsie

  • Victoria Cross Victoria Cross on Jan 09, 2017

    Since your not always on your feet, I would suggest getting some thick wool socks to wear. Any outdoor store should carry them, or you can go online (LL Bean has them, so does Vermont Country Store). You may need to get an inexpensive pair of shoes due to the thickness of the socks, and if you have a wool allergy wear another pair of socks under them.


    Another option would be be a heated floor mat, it's like a giant heating pad for your feet and they use very little power. I bought a friend one several years ago and she loves it. I don't recall where I bought it from but Google should pull up where they're sold. Just a warning though, they're not cheap.

    • Elsie Elsie on Jan 09, 2017

      Thank you Victoria for your answer. I do wear socks but not WOOL ones as I never knew where to buy them. Thanks for telling me where to get them.

      I looked up about the Heated Floor Mat but it would be too expensive. But thank you for the idea.

      Thanks for the suggestion. I thank everyone for the great suggestions.

      Elsie

  • Jart37 Jart37 on Jan 09, 2017

    Is this room interior, or have outer windows/doors. Have you insulated them with self stick insulation, flex seal, or plain ole newspaper? I am in a room now

    with concrete, paper cover floor, heat vents in the cealing, have sliding glass doors and I have to hand search for air entrance to seal my feet are fine, I wear socks or shoes most of the time,

    • Elsie Elsie on Jan 09, 2017

      Thank you for answering , Jart. The house is insulated OK but it is just the my feet are in a cubicle under the desk with 3 walls around it and the heat from the ceiling does not go down there. With the cement under the ceramic tile makes the floor colder also. I wear socks also but someone wrote and suggested me wearing WOOL socks. i will have to try that.

      Thank you and everyone that wrote, for their help.

      Elsie


  • Linda Hendrex Linda Hendrex on Jan 15, 2017

    The problem could be poor circulation in your feet. I suffer from this myself, and things like wool socks don't help me at all because my feet don't generate enough heat to hold warmth in and stay toasty. It really helps to give them a "heat boost". Get a small electric heating pad and put it under your feet while sitting at your desk. This will heat your feet and draw the blood down to allow them to start generating their own Warmth. And get up and walk around a few minutes every hour to keep your blood circulating vigorously. Or, if possible, get a standing desk or a desk treadmill, or even one of those small pedaling devices that you can keep under your desk to keep your feet and legs moving while you work. It is very bad for the circulation to sit too much. You will be amazed to find that movement can make a huge difference.

  • Eugene Brennan Eugene Brennan on Jan 15, 2017

    It's probably a good idea to keep your feet up off the ground so they're not losing heat into the floor, using some form of mat. Maybe a wooden bathroom mat? Alternatively you can raise your legs so that they are horizontal. This allows blood to flow easier so it doesn't have to go all the way down to your feet and back up again. I have a box under the table at which I work on my computer and I lazily rest my feet on this! It's a good idea also to take regular breaks to walk around and get the circulation going in your legs and feet.

  • Elsie Elsie on Jan 15, 2017

    Thank you Eugene,

    I tried the mat but my chair does not roll on it. I also have a box and i do use it at times, but that brings my feet in further into the closed cubical and it is even colder in there for my feet and legs. I am using a blanket around my legs, and I am trying to find WOOL socks or stockings really, the longer the better. ...so far no luck. I am thinking of making something like a large BOOT but made out of quilted fabric so that I can slip my whole leg into it. That might insulate my feet and legs from the cold that is coming up from the floor and the small cubicle that is formed under my desk. I hope that it works.

    Thank you Eugene and everyone else that sent in suggestions. I appreciated all of them.

    Elsie

  • Eugene Brennan Eugene Brennan on Jan 16, 2017

    How about these USB powered heated slippers if you have a computer on your desk to power them (or a USB charger)?


    http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cute-Totoro-Warmer-Plush-Shoes-Heat-Foot-Computer-PC-Electric-USB-Unsex-Slipper-/262715661026

    • Elsie Elsie on Jan 22, 2017

      Thankyou Eugene,

      I will have to look into them but I am not sure what I have on my computer so that the slippers will work. I will try to check them out.

      Thank you again for taking the time to try to help me.

      Elsie

  • Swinnen Lisette Swinnen Lisette on Jan 17, 2017

    The only you can do is built a platform of 10 cm high filled with insulation material. Make it big enough for your desk entirely and the place to roll your chair back and forwards without rolling off. Maybe put some wooden stop behind your chair, at the end of your platform.









    • Elsie Elsie on Jan 22, 2017

      Hi Swinnen,

      Thank you for answering me. I appreciate everyone's ideas. Everyone has sent me sucfh wonderful suggestions. Thank you , everyone.

      Elsie

  • Pat Brinkley Spencer Pat Brinkley Spencer on Jan 17, 2017

    Knee high MukLuks! Zulily has several styles or did before Christmas. The ones with fleece lining actually get very warm!

  • Red13904764 Red13904764 on Jan 19, 2017

    When I had my desk job and had cramps or muscle soreness, I would heat up a water bottle in the microwave for about 2 minutes and place it in my lap. It was the perfect solution to help alleviate discomfort and to help stay warm in a chilly office. You could do the same thing for your feet. Take your shoes off, leave your socks on, and rest your feet on the warm bottle.

  • Elsie Elsie on Jan 19, 2017

    Thank you Redhairgirl. That sounds like another easy and cheap way to keep warm. Thank you and everyone else for taking the time to posted a solution for me. I really APPRECIATE it.

    Elsie

  • Ella Frierson Bond Ella Frierson Bond on Jan 22, 2017

    When I worked I used just an inexpensive heating pad. And I stay chilly all the time, even her in Florida.

    • Elsie Elsie on Jan 22, 2017

      Thank you Ebond,

      Yes I am also always cold so this is really bad for me. But with all the suggestions that i have gotten from everyone, I will certainly find a good solution.

      Thank you , everyone.

  • Mary Mary on Jan 22, 2017

    Using space heater and heating pads are a good temporary fix but not meant for hours in a row. This will cause your capillaries to shut down thinking you don't need them any more and you will be cold more often. Think of the people that live in the arctic their hands are exposed to extreme temps and they have several times more capillaries in them, because their bodies told them they need more. So a shoe that doesn't transfer the cold to your feet are a better choice, this is something a thin sole would do. Make sure that they are not tight this slows the circulation. Try turning you desk if you can, help the heat flow. You could raise your floor and install a heated floor. This would probably cost about 500.00

  • Elsie Elsie on Jan 22, 2017

    Thank you so much Mary for writing to me. I appreciate your very good advice and suggestion, as well as what everyone wrote to me with many good suggestions.

    i have thought about moving my desk but my desk is in an "L" shape and it would mean cutting some of the long "L" off. But that portion of the Ceramic floor is not on cement which I know would help. I will definitely look into a pair of high boots. They may help.

    Thank you again for your help.

    Elsie

  • Lindcurt Lindcurt on Jan 22, 2017

    Maybe use a piece of carpet padding under your feet to keep the cold in the floor and not your feet.

  • Elsie Elsie on Jan 23, 2017

    Thank you Lindcurt for answering me. I tried a carpet and yes it would have helped but it interferes with my chair rolling over it as i am moving my chair a lot.

    But I will try to get a much larger piece of carpeting (I had tried a smaller piece of carpeting) to see if that will work. Thank you for the suggestion.

    Elsie

  • Dfm Dfm on Jan 26, 2017

    find a "grow mat" one used to propagate seedlings. is sturdier than a heating pad , has a lower prfile and can be connected to a thermostat to keep it at an even heat. they come in different sizes.

  • Elsie Elsie on Jan 27, 2017

    Hi Dfm,

    Thank you for that wonderful idea.

    What I have done so far:

    I had a piece of heavy vinyl with a backing that I was going to use to reupholster something. I tacked it up under my desk hanging down like a curtain, to the floor...just in front of my legs. That has helped some. Now I am going to see if I can find the "grow mat" that you are talking about. That would help also. Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

    Elsie

    • Dfm Dfm on Jan 28, 2017

      its a bit early in the growing season, but i did a quick check at the biggest online retailer "Amazon" . yup it's there. and you will probable chuckle at the "review"

  • B. Enne B. Enne on Jan 28, 2017

    I would get an area rug. You don't really want to put a plastic chair mat on it, because that would defeat the purpose of the rug. If your chair doesn't work with it, I see 2 options. Either buy the "cut-what-you-need" carpet runners that come on a roll. They are more industrial and your chair should roll on it. The 2nd option would be to get a thicker, plush carpet (=warmer) and change the casters on your chair. They have specific ones for carpeting.

    http://www.staples.com/chair+casters/directory_chair+casters

    Idk this company but they are caster specialists. http://www.castercity.com/carpet-furniture-casters.htm