Who
doesn’t love summer? The fashion, the sunshine, the freedom to go
outside and enjoy the fresh air without layering up – it’s
many people’s favorite season.
However,
sometimes it gets too hot to handle. When temperatures soar, it can
be too much for some, especially when you factor in humidity. The
heat can take a serious toll, including causing serious illness, so
it’s in your best interest to stay hydrated and stay cool when the
temperatures reach triple digits. Here are some tips on how to beat
the heat.
Freeze
your sheets
Yes,
this might sound ridiculous at first, but if you’re living without
air conditioning and need a way
to stay cool at night,
you can freeze your sheets. Take them off your bed a few hours before
you want to go to sleep and pop them in your freezer until it’s
time to get to bed. Just before you call it a night, grab those
frozen sheets and make your bed with them. Talk about refreshing!
They
might not stay cool for the entire night, but they will be cool
enough to help you fall asleep. Plus, they’ll help make your
mattress feel cooler as well which can help you stay asleep, rather
than you staying up all night tossing and turning because it’s just
too hot. If you’ve got a bedside fan, keep it pointed at your
sheets and mattress to help them stay crisp and cool.
Stay
indoors
Speaking of air conditioning, if you have it, don’t be afraid to use it and stay inside to stay cool. For some, it may feel like you’re wasting your summer days indoors, but for others, it’s a welcome relief to the hot, sweltering temperatures. You don’t want to crank the air conditioning too high and waste energy and drive up your energy bill, but keeping the indoor temperature hovering around 78 ̊ Fahrenheit is a comfortable temperature for most.
The key to using your air conditioning however is to keep it well maintained. Making sure that you have numbers for companies that provide Air Conditioning Services on hand, and that you don’t have any trouble keeping the air conditioning unit in good condition will help you overcome the heat wave.
Wear
cool clothing
No,
it isn’t about the latest fashions, but rather loose-fitting
clothing in light colors
made from cooler materials like cotton and linen. Skip the black and
navy colors and the heavier weight clothing like denim and swap it
for white and beige to help reflect the sun. The breezier fabrics
will help keep heat from getting trapped, thus circulating and
helping maintain your body’s temperature.
Close
your blinds
Keeping
all your windows covered with blackout curtains will help the sun
stay outside and prevent
it from heating up the inside of your home.
Some smaller spaces can heat up dramatically if the sun is directly
shining through your windows, so put a stop to that and you can help
lower the indoor temperatures by a few degrees. Even if you don’t
have blackout curtains for your windows, any blinds will help, or
even rigging up blankets to cover them in a pinch.
Cold
showers and baths
If
you’re seriously overheating, having a cold shower or sitting in a
cold bath can help bring your body temperature back down. Even just
running cool water over your feet can help immensely, or sitting with
your feet in a bowl full of cold water and replacing it as necessary
can keep you cool throughout the day. If you have a fan pointed at
you, wetting your arms and neck and sitting in front of a fan can
also make you feel chilled.
Avoid
strenuous or excessive activity
This
might be a no-brainer for some since the extreme heat can make even
the best of us feel lazy and lacking energy, but for anyone who has
to be outside, do your best to limit the amount of physical or
strenuous activity you do while the sun is at its peak and
temperatures are highest. Taking regular breaks in the shade is
necessary, and staying hydrated is crucial.
Drink
water
Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink water and hydrate. If you feel thirsty, you could already be dehydrated. Take drinks of water regularly and often whether or not you feel like you need to, because in extreme heat, you definitely need to. Throw a second water bottle in the freezer the night before so it completely freezes over, then as it thaws in the heat you’ll have crisp, cold ice water as well.
Beating
the heat wave doesn’t have to be a challenge. By being aware,
keeping hydrated and ensuring your home and clothing can cope with
the temperatures, you can rest assured that you’ll be prepared for
whatever the weather might bring.
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