Winter in Indiana is dry.  To keep the static cling, electric shocks, and chapped skin to a minimum, there are a few things that are essentials in our house.

1. Minimal use of the central heat. This may mean that there are times when I’m wearing wool socks or wrapped up in a blanket, but it keeps the air much less dry.  Another added perk is the low electric bill.  We paid $25 last month.  Not bad, huh?

2. A good vaporizer.  We’ve had the same Vicks Vaporizer for the last 3 years.  Come winter, it’s on for a good 10 out of each 24 hours in the day.  Chris swears that he can tell when it’s turned off.

3. Chapstick or Lip Gloss. Gotta have good chapstick.  If I don’t, my dry lips will keep me up at night, I kid you not.

4. Good skin care products. I have very sensitive skin.  I can’t use just any old soap or lotion, or else my face will turn red and dry out.  This gets 10 times worse in the winter.  To help with this, I use Olay Pro-X skin care line.

5. A decent conditioner. I use Sebastian Light and have used it for the last year and a half at least.  Keeps my hair in very good shape!

6. Hand Lotion. I use Crabtree & Evelyn’s Nantucket Briar.  Smells delicious, isn’t overpowering, and keeps my hands looking nice in spite of numerous washings while at work.

7. Water. I drink a lot of water to begin with, but in the winter months I usually drink at least 1 extra bottle per day.  I’m on my feet all the time while I’m at work, so I’m easily dehydrated.  My co-workers love to tease me when they see me coming in through the door with my liter bottles of water 🙂

8. Eye Drops. I wear contact lenses for the majority of the time.  My eyes get pretty dried out, especially from working in a hospital.  I use eye drops a few times a week.

9. Saline Nasal Spray. Chris uses a generic saline nasal spray every day.  I don’t need to use it very often, but I’m always glad to have it around.  I see a fair amount of spontaneous nosebleeds in the ER.  While several of these are related to mismanagement in anticoagulation therapy, more often than not they’re related to dry mucousal membranes, plain and simple.

10. Hot Chocolate. Yes, this is a winter essential.  My mom makes a killer hot chocolate mix.  I like to add a little cinnamon to mine and drink it slowly in the evenings (or mornings!).  I can’t imagine winter without it.

So there you have it – 10 of my winter essentials.  What are some of your winter necessities?