If you're anything at all like me, it doesn't actually matter what the temperature is outside because, no matter what, you will be freezing your ass off.
And then there are those who feel like they're literally on fire in a T-shirt and jeans in the dead of winter. I've never understood those people, but I at least relate to the uncomfortable temperature struggle that is all too real for so many of us.
I seriously used to think that my family members, friends and roommates were all out to get me, constantly dialing back the thermostat after it was set to a normal temp.
Now I realize I'm just one of those people who is constantly cold no matter the circumstance -- and that I also fall into conspiracy theories about my friends and family alarmingly fast. But that's a topic for another time.
We're here to finally put the temperature debate that's sweeping the nation (or just my office) to bed and figure out why some of us just don't get to be comfy like the others.
Seriously, it's a cool 70-something degrees inside the Elite Daily headquarters, and I'm typing to you from underneath four layers of jackets and a Snuggie. Life isn't fair.
Hot flashes and the chills could be indicators of poor health
Part of the reason some of us may always feel cold while others remain uncomfortably hot could actually be our health.
HealthBlurbs reports some of these issues are ones that often go unnoticed, such as anemia, malnutrition, infection, weight issues (being both underweight and overweight poses various symptoms) and even silent thyroiditis.
What's one way we can fix this? Regular health checkups and open dialog with your doctors.
When it comes to your health, maintaining open communication with a professional is crucial in discovering and treating problems like these before they become even more serious issues -- or worse, leave you constantly feeling uncomfortably hot or cold.
If you're always hot or cold, you could be way too stressed
Women's Health reports that stressful situations such as fighting, heavy workloads and busy schedules could be the cause for our discomfort in normal temperatures.
Michael Lynch, a clinical neuropsychologist, says there is a lot going on inside the body that causes the weather-related effects we feel from stress.
He tells the magazine,
If you're stressed, your autonomic nervous system kicks in, causing blood to move toward your body's core organs. This is your body's fight or flight response.
So, if you're starting to feel extremely hot in the office while everyone else appears to be drowning under blankets made of jackets, it may be because of the fight that's brewing between you and your friends or family.
Try leaving the unnecessary stress at home, and move forward with your day on a positive note in order to remain calm, cool and comfy.
Your happiness may be affecting your climate control
Apparently, it's not just health and other physical factors that are affecting those of us who consistently feel weather extremes.
Even if the temp in the room or outside is normal, many of us may feel somewhat off based on our emotional state. Reports show that when people feel isolated, alone or depressed, they are more likely to feel the shivers.
The opposite is true for the times we feel connected and more social.
That warm, fuzzy feeling that happens when you're surrounded by people you love spending time with? It really is a physical feeling that makes us more receptive to heat and leaves us feeling warmer and happier than if we were surrounded by strangers.
So when our hearts are cold, we are too -- despite whatever the actual temperature may be.
How to avoid feeling extra hot and too, too cold
So now that we know exactly what is causing us to feel such uncomfortable temperatures in normal environments, what can we possibly do to fix it?
Apparently, there are a few ways to eradicate the cold or stop sweating for no good reason. Everything from the clothes we wear to the food we eat plays a role in how our bodies adapt to the temperature, Alternet reports.
Certain foods in different climates will help our internal balance of hot and cold take place, such as eating soups and carbohydrates to stay warm during the winter months.
Veggies and greens along with lightly portioned meals should benefit you during the hotter, summer months.
Setting the thermostat between 70-75 degrees will also help you maintain the perfect temp for the average person, and finding your sweet spot in that range is crucial to feeling comfortable.
But the final trick to avoid extreme heat or cold may just be in our heads. Apparently, visualizing warmer places like tropical paradises is actually proven to release chemical endorphins that assist in maintaining body heat.
Citations: Causes for Always Feeling So Hot and Too Cold, Heat and Cold Intolerance Sensitivity Symptoms (Health Blurbs), Why Do Women Often Feel Colder Than Men (Alternet), Why some of us are always cold and others are constantly hot (News)
