Ways to Beat the Oncoming Summer Heat

We all love summers. But not all of us can bear the scorching heat that comes with it.

We sweat, we’re uncomfortable, and we’re dehydrated — and all that before we even step out of the house. A simple solution would be to crank up the AC and stay indoors until autumn. Unfortunately, things aren’t that simple. 

So here are seven simple ways you can beat the summer heat. 

Limit the time you spend outdoors

One of the best ways to stay cool is to avoid the heat altogether by staying indoors. 

And if you have to go outside, limit your time outdoors by taking frequent breaks where you can. Try visiting a mall, library, or movie theater to cool off when you start feeling too uncomfortable. A short spell inside your air-conditioned car is also a good idea.

Just make sure you have adequate ventilation (or fans) around you to make sure all that sweat evaporates. You can also try using a mist fan (check out this range of fans in NZ) at your home for a refreshing cooling effect.

Dress right and apply sunscreen

Wearing loose, light-colored clothes helps sweat evaporate quicker than when you wear tight-fitting, darker clothes. So it’s a good idea to stock up on light-colored clothes as summers approach.

Since summer clothes tend to leave large areas of the skin exposed to the sun, make sure you apply sunscreen every time you step out. It’s best to choose a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. This is the ideal amount that can effectively block the sun’s harmful UVB rays. If you are looking for the best physical sunscreen for the summer, consider checking the label for any red-flag ingredients, such as oxybenzone, octisalate, and nanoparticles that can potentially harm the environment. It’s also important to reapply it every two hours because your skin absorbs it.

Finally, some people believe you don’t need sunscreen when you’re inside a car. Unfortunately, that’s not true because UV rays can easily penetrate car windows and damage your skin. 

Cut back on the use of appliances and lights 

You’ll be surprised to learn that appliances, gaming consoles, computers, and even standard light bulbs can heat up your house while they are running. So one effective way to keep your house temperature bearable is to minimize the use of these appliances. 

For example, you can run your washing machine only when you have a full load. You can also eliminate the heat generated by the dryer by hanging your clothes outside.

Similarly, you might want to avoid using the dishwasher if it is not full. 

Finally, replacing the oven with a microwave to prepare meals is also a good idea (although it might not be very practical). You could also consider eating meals that don’t have to be cooked. Fresh summer salads with lots of hydrating vegetables and proteins like turkey ham are great options.

Drink plenty of water

Hydration is key when your body is trying to stay cool in the scorching weather. Although sweat is nasty, it’s a major way your body loses heat. If you don’t drink enough water, you won’t be able to sweat, which means your body temperature will rise.

While iced water is your safest option for cooling down, things like pop or energy drinks are also useful. Any liquid is better than no liquid. 

Just make sure you don’t try iced coffee as a way of cooling down. Coffee is a diuretic, which means it will make you pee more. And this can lead to dehydration.

Refrigerate your bedsheets

This is a very simple yet effective way to stay cool during the summers. All you have to do is place your bedsheets in your freezer for half an hour before you sleep. 

Also, consider investing in soft gel packs that you can place underneath your sheets or tucked between your legs (wrapped in a tea towel) to stay cool during the night.

Play water games

There’s no need to run out to the water park. In fact, you can play a range of fun water games in your own backyard.

Simply running through the sprinkler in the backyard is way better than a crowded water park, especially during the ongoing pandemic. 

However, you should save this activity for evenings unless your backyard is shaded. Water on your lawn in the middle of the day with the sun beating down does nothing to help it grow.

If you live in an area with strict water regulations, you can use water guns to engage in a family water fight. Clean spray bottles work well too. Or you can simply use some sponges. Grab a pack of cheap sponges from the dollar store, a couple of buckets of water, and you are ready for lots of summer, cool-down fun.

Eat frozen snacks 

There are so many delicious frozen treats you can keep on hand, and not all of them need to be sugar-filled. Frozen berries and other fruits taste good, are nutritious, and go well with yogurt for dipping. 

You can also freeze yogurt in popsicle molds for a healthier alternative to ice cream. Here are some more easy homemade frozen snacks that you can try.