12 Tips to Help You Cope With The Heat This Summer

Numerous locations around the world have scorching temperatures throughout the year. And if you live in one of these locations, chances are you’re always looking for effective ways to beat the heat. Even though the majority of the time the weather is pleasant, for days on end it can feel unbearable. So how can you cool down while still enjoying the beautiful sunshine?

Well, there are several techniques that you can use to ensure that you and your family remain cool and healthy throughout the warmer months. To help guide you in the right direction, here are 12 of them that you can check out:

Stay Hydrated with Plenty of Water

This may seem like an obvious solution, but it’s surprising how many people forget to drink enough water each day. Especially prevalent if you’re planning on spending a lot of time outside, you need to ensure that your hydration levels are kept in check.

If you’re only drinking wine or another beverage when friends/family around, make sure that you have a filled insulated wide mouth water bottle to hand – as these drinks aren’t as hydrating as you think and can actually dehydrate you – something that no one wants to experience in the hot temperature. Although this is only a simple trick, it can make all the difference to how you’re feeling.

Consider Investing in Air Conditioning

If you’re looking for a long term solution that can transform your home, then you may want to consider investing in an air conditioning unit. Of course, this is an expensive option – so you’ll want to weigh up the costs associated with it beforehand. 
But it can be a very effective way of cooling down your home each day throughout the hot summer days. Installed around your property in whatever rooms you wish, it’s a popular choice for many living in this country.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to install a permanent AC unit, you could opt to purchase a portable AC unit (check this out for an example of one). An item that you can move around the house with you, it will keep you cool every day without a big price tag attached to it.

Jump in the Shower Before Bed

Sleeping when the weather is hot can be unbearable for many people – causing you sleepless nights and an uncomfortable sleeping situation that you dread. So to help cool you down and relax you before you sleep, maybe try jumping in the shower and letting the cool water flow over you.
The moment that you step out of the shower and dry off you’ll feel ready for bed. To enhance this even more, consider turning on the fans in your room for added ventilation, pulling down the duvet and spraying some cold water on the sheet before you head into it.

Utilize Your Windows!

Yet again, this might sound like an obvious solution but it’s still worth a mention due to how effective it can be. To bring in the fresh air and allow ventilation around your home, consider opening each of your windows around your home each day.

Then to prevent the heat from seeping in, you can draw the curtains. You’d be surprised how much of a difference this can make to the temperature of your home – making it a much more comfortable environment to spend time in.

Go for a Swim!

If you are fortunate enough to have a swimming pool in your backyard, then it’s a good idea to make use of this when the weather is hot. However, although this will undeniably cool you down, you must also be careful that you’re not spending too long in the sun - as this could cause sunstroke if you’re not careful.
Before taking a dip, put some sunscreen on and limit yourself to the amount of time that you’re in there for. Alternatively, if you don’t have a pool, you could head to a nearby leisure center to enjoy a swim there.

Wear Appropriate Clothing

Another way to help you to feel cool throughout the hotter seasons is to avoid tight fitting or thick clothing. Instead, opt for loose, light-colored clothing. In particular, there are fabrics that you can look out for that are known for their natural ability to cool you down – such as linen or cotton. Dark colors, such as black or grey should also be avoided due to the amount of heat they absorb.

Put Your Moisturizer/Night Creams in the Refrigerator

If you apply moisturizer or another type of cream each night, consider storing these in the refrigerator throughout the summer. This way, they will offer a refreshing sensation each time you go to put them on. The ultimate way to cool down before bed or in the morning, you’ll love how it feels on your skin.

Eat The Right Foods

Staying cool also involves you eating the right foods. Foods that contain meat, for example, are known to heat your body up as they require more energy to digest, whereas fruit and vegetables help your body to cool down and reach a normal temperature.
As well as this, try and eat smaller portions throughout the hot weather, to try and limit the act of digestion. Ideal snacks throughout the heat would be foods that are water-based such as cucumber or watermelons. Hydrating your body and making it feel more refreshed, you’ll love the effect it can have on you.

Take Advantage of the Shade!

When you start to feel yourself overheating, perhaps move to the shade in your backyard or inside of your home. Although you’ll undoubtedly still feel hot it will make it far more comfortable being outside - rather than sitting in the blazing sunshine all day. Similarly, if you want to head out on a walk, consider bringing an umbrella with you to provide you with some much-needed shade along the way.  

Don't forget to generously apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before going outdoors. Look for non-toxic mineral-based sunscreen containing zinc oxide, which is a stable mineral that provides both UVB (which burns skin) and UVA (which ages skin, ie causes wrinkles and spots). There are plenty of options on the market, whether online or in your local health food store.

Try Mint or Peppermint

This is a technique that many people don’t realize works. Menthol which is found in mint has active ingredients inside it that help to cool the body down. So maybe think about trying either mint in an ice cold glass of water or peppermint in tea – either way, you’ll see how it will normalize your temperature in no time at all.

Use Aloe Vera

Yet again, this may be a tip that you don’t initially realize but it can be very successful at quickly cooling you down. Consider either putting this in a spray bottle and applying it over your body (with an added touch of peppermint oil for an enhanced effect) or applying it in a cream form.

Switch Electronic Devices Off

If you have several electronic devices in your home all turned on at once, it could be directly contributing to the heat of your home. Therefore, it may be worth turning off the appliances when you’re not using them. Not only will this cool down your home, but it will have a positive impact on your energy bill.

Final Thoughts

So, there you go! Those are 12 tips that you can use to help you cope with the heat this summer. Of course, the steps you take are up to you and you might find that one technique works better than another. However, whatever you can do to try and lower your body temperature and keep your home at a comfortable temperature the better you’ll feel each day.