I'm a Los Angeleno now, after being born and raised in Virginia. I've been living in California with my lovely wife for the past 5 years, and it's official -- I'm no longer built for east coast winters.

Granted, the east coast has been bombarded with blizzards the past few years, so the weather the state is getting every winter these days didn't necessarily reflect the winters I grew up with.

So whether the weather has gotten more brutal or I've grown into a 30+-year-old baby, I had to live and die by some winter tips when me and my lady traveled home for the holidays.

I also happen to work from home, so I need all of the comfort and energy I can muster to make sure I'm still productive.

Below are a few tips that carried me through and allowed me to make this holiday trip a winner.

1. I Had To Invest In A REAL Coat

Sometimes, saving money isn't really worth it.

I thought that I'd be able to make it through the winter by simply doubling up on some light jackets and hoodies that I had.

Needless to say, once the temperatures in Virginia reached the single digits, I knew I'd have to actually bite the bullet and buy a coat. Since it doesn't get but so chilly in California, I made sure to leave the coat at my parents' house so that I'll be more prepared next holiday season.

If you want to make it through winter without suffering, you'll need to make sure you buy yourself a quality coat as well -- especially if you're still trying to get by on an old and worn coat. To really be comfortable, buy a 500 fill or greater coat, and you should be good in any climate.

2. I Had To Be Methodical About My Diet

During the holidays, we eat plenty of comfort food specialties, drink plenty of alcohol and our diets and good sense go by the wayside.

Because I spend so much of my day sitting down and starting at computers, I need all of the natural energy I can drum up. Coffee will only take me so far and typically comes with a nasty crash the more I drink.

As a result, I started counting calories to make sure I'm getting enough food everyday. I got caught up in the winter 2018 blizzard before flying back to LA, and made sure to stock up on some good foods to brave the storm.

Some great foods that I made sure to stock up on include coconut oil, eggs, salmon, avocados, lean chicken and leafy greens for my juices and smoothies. I also bought a hemp protein mix and some natural peanut butter.

Since I was snowed in, I took the time to get creative with a healthy recipe that was delicious and surprisingly filling. I still had a sweet taste from all the delicious holiday desserts I enjoyed, but didn't want to go that far off the wagon since new year's was here and everyone else had gone back to work and back to their routines.

What I found were these delicious cheesecake keto fat bombs that were bite sized and packed with healthy fats and omega 3 fatty acids. I try to get my Omega 3's with fish oil, but loved supplementing in a tastier way.

These meals gave me plenty of great nutrients and the energy to handle my work.

3. I Had To Squeeze Workouts In

Since so many people suffer from seasonal affective mood disorder, I made sure to get out in front of it by instead pumping my body with good endorphins.

I wasn't able to get out to a gym due to the snow storm, but fought back cabin fever with some home yoga sessions, lots of pushups and plenty of burpees. Using my body weight alone, I was able to get a great series of workouts in that kept me trim, strong and energized.

4. I Had To Make An Effort To Renew Bonds

Finally, since I was home in Virginia a little longer than expected, I made every effort to hang out with friends and family members.

It's always a little sad when my wife and I have to hop on a plane and fly more than 2,000 miles from where we grew up. Because I can't just pick up and visit whenever I want, I made every effort to treat everyone with love and to have some great talks.

It was a great family holiday season that recharged my wife and I to head back and tackle this year with vigor.

So if you're looking to brave winter, consider these four tips and use them to help you like they helped me.