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You know that first really cold morning of the season—when you grab the steering wheel and instantly regret it? If arthritis or carpal tunnel is in the mix, that chill can leave you aching before you even start the car.
Happens to me every year. I tell myself I’ll remember to grab gloves, and of course, I never do. Then halfway through the drive, I’m flexing my fingers, trying to warm them up on the heater vents.
The good news? You can give yourself a head start before your feet ever touch the floor. Here’s how I like to ease into the morning:
When it’s cold out, your body naturally tightens up. The blood flow slows down, and your joints don’t move as easily. For those of us dealing with arthritis, nerve pain, or carpal tunnel, that means more stiffness, tingling, and soreness — especially in the hands and wrists.
And that icy steering wheel? It just adds insult to injury. You grip it, and suddenly every little ache decides to wake up for the day too.
I’ve found that a few easy changes make a world of difference on cold mornings:
Simple movements—like opening and closing your fists, rotating your wrists, or stretching your fingers—get blood flowing and keep joints from seizing up on contact with a cold wheel. It only takes a minute, but it makes a noticeable difference.
I’ll rub my hands together or hold them around a warm coffee cup for a minute before leaving the house. It sounds simple, but it actually helps the joints and tendons in your fingers and wrists move more freely when you start driving.
I used to leave my gloves in the car when it got cold, thinking I wouldn’t forget them. Problem is, they ended up just as cold as the steering wheel, so my hands still ached. Now I keep a pair by the door, right next to my keys, so I don’t forget them—and my hands stay comfortable even on that frozen steering wheel.
Cold, dry air can make your hands feel tight and stiff, which makes gripping a cold steering wheel even more uncomfortable. I like to put on a light hand moisturizer first to keep my skin soft, then rub in a little Outback Oil. The massage helps relax stiff joints and tendons, making my hands feel more flexible and ready for the drive.
Nothing beats a morning without stiff, aching hands. Here’s proof that a little Outback Oil goes a long way:
“This time of year, I make a point of rubbing in some Outback Oil before I leave the house. It helps keep my hands from tightening up in the cold, so by the time I’m backing out of the driveway, my wrists and fingers actually move like normal.” – Barbara, 79
Shop Outback OilGetting older means learning a few new tricks to stay comfortable — and this is one of those little things that makes a big difference.
You might think, “Ah, it’s just a quick drive, I’ll brave it without gloves,” but here’s the thing: that cold shock can make your joints tighten up, your wrists ache, and your fingers tingle or go numb. It’s the kind of stiffness that can linger all morning—trust me, I’ve felt it plenty of times.
Cold mornings are tough enough without starting the day in pain. Keep gloves handy, loosen up those hands, and give your joints the comfort they deserve—Outback Oil makes mornings like this way easier.
Mark
