During the hot summer months you need to stay cool, especially if you're going to spend any significant time outdoors. You will face the hot weather at some point, even if you plan to spend the majority of your time indoors with air conditioning. Here are five ways to stay cool in the summer.
1. Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated will help you feel cooler. You may be surprised by how much water your body actually loses throughout the day, especially when the hot weather causes you to sweat. You'll need to replace all of the water your body is sweating out, and the recommended amount is at least eight ounces of water every hour or so.
Bring a water bottle with you wherever you go. You can buy a plastic or aluminum refillable water bottle, or find reasonably-priced cases of water bottles at grocery stores and drugstores—although they may not be the best idea. Katie at wellnessmama.com says buying bottled water from the store is "not the best option on price, taste, or health, so I skip it.
That being said, having a bottle of water is very convenient, and there are some great sustainable options. Glass and steel water bottles are my personal favorites." If the quality of water is important to you, water bottles with built-in filters are also available.
2. Dress Appropriately
Wearing the right clothes is an important part of staying cool during the hot summer months. Sometimes dressing for the heat is not a possibility thanks to work dress codes and other specific occasions, but whenever possible, you should try to wear lightweight clothing and natural fabrics.
Something else to consider when dressing for summer is choosing clothes in light colors. Unlike darker fabrics, light colors do not absorb as much of the sun's heat, and lighter fabrics also cool off much faster than dark colors.
If it is a dry heat, you may want to consider lightweight clothing that still covers much of your body. This type of clothing will keep the sun off your skin which will help in keeping you cooler as well as lowering your chances of getting sunburned.
3. Eat Differently
This tip has more of a minimal effect in comparison to the first three, but eating different may still help you to stay cool. Instead of a hot meal, try eating something that is served cold like a salad or sandwich. The same goes for beverages. If you are used to a hot coffee in the morning, try it in iced form or an iced tea instead.
Eat spicy food. This may seem contradictory, but most spicy foods come from some of the hottest places in the world. When you eat spicy food, it makes you sweat, which will cool your body.
4. Use the Lower Levels
If you find yourself in a building with no air conditioning, try to get to the lowest level of the building. This may not always be possible, but the lower levels are always much cooler as heat rises and will make the upper levels much hotter.
If at all possible, sitting on the floor, or on a pillow or pad placed on the floor, can keep you cool. Furniture will hold in heat, and you are much better off siting on the floor away from things that can hold heat.
5. Wrap a Wet Cloth Around Your Neck
Wrapping a handkerchief, towel, or bandanna wet with cold water around one's neck is a cooling technique that has been used for years. When the cloth dries out, just wet it again for as long as you need it. This is a great way to stay cool throughout the day.
The only problem with this method is the possibility of the cloth dripping onto your shoulders, back, or chest when it gets too wet. At the end of the day, the cloth can be thrown into the wash with the rest of your clothing.
