Cold hands are hard to type with. The chill is also distracting, making it hard to stay focused.

Here are seven ways to conquer the cold at work!

1. Address the Root of the Problem

To start, see if you can prevent your hands from getting cold in the first place. For instance, the simplest solution is to turn up the thermostat, if you can afford to. Or you might be able to shield your workspace from the cold.

If your cold hands are the result of an over-aggressive air-conditioner, see if you can get it turned down. If there's a draft from windows or doors, ask to work further away from them. Or, create a partition using curtains or screens.

If you work from home, you have even greater control over the environment. During cold seasons, seal windows with clear plastic. If you can, move your desk closer to the heater.

If you have cold fingers despite a warm environment, your circulation could be to blame. In this case, you should consult a doctor for ways to improve it. If your workplace is cold, but you can't use any of the solutions above, keep reading!

2. Use Pomodoro to Move Around

Blood circulation is a big part of how your body keeps warm. The blood transports heat, among other things, to your whole body. When your body gets cold, it starts to prioritize circulation away from your hands and feet. It moves more blood to your torso, where your vital organs are.

Basically, your body is being dramatic and behaving as if you are in danger of freezing to death in an avalanche. Fortunately, you can easily improve the situation by restoring circulation in your hands.

The Pomodoro method is a great way to boost circulation at regular intervals. When the timer goes, move around. Get up from your desk and rub your hands together, do hand exercises, or do some general cardio. The increased circulation helps to warm you up!

3. Wear Typing Gloves

You can get thin gloves that provide insulation without restricting your movements. You can even get gloves that work on touchscreen devices! It might slow down your typing speed a little, but you'll speed back up as you get used to it.

You can also get fingerless gloves to increase flexibility while keeping your palms and wrists warm. This does not warm the fingers as much, but is still considerably better than nothing. Try them if you can't stand typing with normal gloves.

4. Make a Tent

Turn your fashion statement into insulation. Use a poncho or blanket scarf to envelop your keyboard. After a few minutes, your body heat will warm the space. As a bonus, this also helps you train your touch-typing skills!

Don't try this with laptops, though. In a laptop, the computer's key components are right under the keyboard. Laptops overheat if the fans are blocked, so putting it in a small, insulated space is a bad idea.

If you don't want to cover the keyboard, wearing a big scarf or knit wrap is still a good idea. It gives you a warm place to rest your hands when you're not typing. It also helps conserve heat at your core better than a sweater.

5. Add Candles

Get a candle or two to put on your desk. Though the flame is small, it can still slightly increase the temperature in a small area around it. As a bonus, it can add a pleasant smell to your workspace.

Do not place flames near the monitor, as the heat will damage the screen. Unless your candle is in a jar or other container, keep it a few inches away from the mouse pad to avoid wax spills.

6. Drink a Warm Beverage

Rather than a normal water bottle, try adding a handy winter gadget such as an electric mug-warmer. Warm water is just as hydrating as cold, and can help raise your overall body temperature.

Hot tea, coffee, or even hot chocolate, in moderation, can also help. Use a cup without a handle, so that your hand gets warm when you pick it up. The drink itself will help keep your body warm, too!

7. Use Dictation and Voice Control

If you're not typing, you can keep your hands warm much more easily. You can use voice control online with a browser extension. This allows you to keep your hands tucked in pockets or under a blanket.

Voice control takes a little getting used to if you haven't used it before. After you adjust, though, it's just as efficient as normal typing!

Don't Let the Cold Stop You

Cold hands can slow you down. But with some simple steps, you can warm them back up and return your productivity to normal levels!

Since cold hands are a result of reduced circulation, the main thing is to warm your body as a whole. Making your home more energy-efficient gives you even more options!