It’s the hottest time of year, and for many people, it can be a real struggle. If your body is unable to cool itself down, you are at risk of overheating, dehydration, and potentially heatstroke. It’s important to take preventive steps to look after yourself.
To make the extreme weather more bearable, here are five steps for coping with the heat.
Drink lots of water
Staying hydrated with plenty of cold water will help to cool you down but it will also reduce your risk of adverse adverse effects. Water helps to regulate your body temperature, allowing you to stay comfortable no matter how hot it is out there. Keep some ice cubes in the freezer to put in your drink for added relief, and attempt to drink at least two liters a day. This quantity should be higher if you do any exercise.
Don’t cook
If you are a foodie and love to spend your evening whipping up a delicious meal, you should avoid using your oven or stove. This will increase the temperature of your living area and make it even less comfortable than before. Instead, plan summery meals that you can eat straight out the fridge, such as salads.
Exercise carefully
Exercise is an important part of your health, and you can’t just avoid any physical activity in the summer. Instead, just be careful about when and how you work out. Going for a long run in the hottest part of the day is obviously not a good idea, so try to schedule your sweat sessions early in the morning or late in the evening. Alternatively, most gyms have air conditioning which can be a blessed relief on boiling days so get yourself a membership and head down to your local fitness center.
Cool down your home
Sleeping can be particularly difficult in summer. Your bedroom gets so hot and clammy that you end up tossing and turning all night. Opening the window might make a slight difference but you may need some extra resources. Buy yourself a bedroom fan to blow cooling air at you throughout the night. Be careful which model you purchase, as some of them can be extremely noisy and disruptive. Find a silent one if you can. Alternatively, consider installing a split system air conditioning unit in your home.
Head indoors
The best place to be in hot weather is indoors. If your home is not suitably cool, try to find other places to spend your time. If you work from home, why not take your laptop to an air conditioned coffee shop or local library instead? When meeting with friends, find a cafe or pub with plenty of shade or spend the day in the cinema. There are plenty of places to escape the sun for a few hours.
Hopefully these five tips have given you some ideas for how to stay cool in summer. Make sure you understand the signs of heatstroke and look after yourself out there. The hot weather will be gone soon enough.