Last month, 90% of the US experienced temperatures reaching 90 degrees or hotter. The heatwave of July, 2019 didn’t only focus on warmer climates. On the contrary, the record-breaking heat built across central and eastern states, too. According to scientists, the extreme summer heat is becoming a recurring trend. More importantly, high temperatures are surging as a result of human-made occurrences. Global warming is, after all, connected to pollution and energy consumption. Until we find a way to reverse our environmental impact rapidly, we’re likely to experience more sweaty summers in the years to come. In reality, even though more and more organizations are taking action to manage their effects on the environment, there’s no denying that we haven’t yet found a way to reverse the damages caused by human presence. In other words, heatwaves are here to stay. We can only hope that we make our eco-friendly aspirations a priority in the direct future. But that's a story for another blog article. 
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8 Tips For Handling A Heatwave

For now the question is, how are you going to handle the next heatwave? Indeed, nobody likes to go outside when the weather’s too hot. But ultimately, staying indoors is not always the solution. Heatwaves are starting to affect people’s mood. Indeed, it’s known that seasonal affective disorder – SAD – tends to occur during the colder months of the year when the direct sunlight is low. However, heatwaves are forcing some folks indoors, reducing their direct exposure to sunlight. In other words, the hotter it is outside, the more likely people are going to struggle with SAD symptoms. Clearly, making the most of the sun while it’s out is vital to your health. Here are a few tips to get you going despite oppressive heat.

We Know How To Keep The House Fresh

It’s always the same: You’ve been dreaming of summer all winter long, and as soon as the temperatures heats up, you long for the frosty wind and the white snow. What can we say? It must be human nature to always want what we can't have! Before going in the heat, you need to make sure that your home stays fresh and well-ventilated. There’s nothing worse than not being able to sleep because your bedroom is uncomfortably warm. If you don’t have an A/C unit, you can create a cooling routine by keeping your windows wide open at night. The rest of the day, keep the blinds closed to stop the sun from heating your rooms. 

Making The Most Of Fresh Air

Once you’ve sorted your indoors, you can pay close attention to the rest of your home. If you’ve got an unused backyard area, consider a patio with an open roof option. This way, you can get plenty of shade in summer while still being outside. You can leave the roof down in the early morning, enjoying a fresh breeze of cool air with your morning coffee. If you’re planning a cozy evening dining al fresco at home, keeping the roof open gives you some shade before the weather cools down! Ultimately, you can transform your garden into an extra room where you are outside but with an adjustable level of protection. 

Avoid The Ice Cream Van

It’s so hot outside that every day turns into a quest for finding the beloved ice cream van, right? If you’re trying to keep your health in check – and your waistline too – it's probably best to avoid the ice cream van and opt for a sugar-free iced tea or a healthy kombucha instead. Additionally, did you know that the temperature difference between the ice cream and your organs creates a shock which increases body temperature? In other words, your body actually gets warmer when it processes icy snacks like ice cream!

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Don't Think Short Clothes

Ah, nothing beats wearing a cute little sundress in summer!  Except that keeping cool in summer is not about wearing less, but rather, wearing more.  Now wait--hear me out.  Trapping a thin layer of air between your clothes and your skin can help to keep you fresh and wick away moisture. Look for thin fabrics designed for doing so, such as high-tech polyester, which only absorbs 0.04% moisture, vs. that of 7% cotton.  For a super hot day, opt for a breathable polyester tank under a thin tee shirt with athleisure shorts in the same material.  Your body will also feel a few degrees cooler wearing long and floaty clothes (linen shorts and trousers and lightweight cotton dresses are your best friends this season). Remember, the material you choose to wear will protect your skin from overheating as well as from direct sun exposure, meaning you can go out in the heat and still stay cool. 

Wear A Hat; Not For Fashion, But For Freshness

This season, hats are back on trend! Cool bucket hats are everywhere in the high street. More importantly than just looking stylish, a hat will help to protect your hair, eyes and face from harsh UVA and UVB rays.   Indeed, a hat will keep the sun out of your face, which keeps you comfortable and fresh, but also summer hats promote airflow so that your head doesn’t get sweaty.  While a large straw hat will help to protect your face from the direct sunlight, you'll still need to use a high SPF sunblock on your skin.
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Nothing Beats A Good Swim

If you’ve got a swimming pool, you should also stay away from the water during the worst of the heat. While it may seem counterintuitive--taking a dip when it's the absolute hottest--subjecting fragile skin to the harsh sunlight can cause serious skin damage, even with a good sunblock.  Make the most of your pool in the morning, early afternoon and the evening, avoiding times when the heat (and the sun) is at its peak (generally 2 - 4 p.m.). Similarly, if you’re planning a day at the beach, plan for an early or a later swim. 

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Long Hair Is Beautiful, But Makes You Sweat

If you’ve been trying to grow your hair, the summer months can make it hard for you to stay committed to it. Long, loose hair can make you sweaty and uncomfortable in the heat. Be sure to keep your hair in an updo--like a ponytail or a braid--to help beat the heat. And if you have short hair, you're already in luck!  Just try and avoid the blow dryer and other heated styling tools.  You really only need a few cute hairstyles to keep your hair out of your way and stay fresh in summer. 

Avoid The Worst Of The Heat

As mentioned, try and avoid the time of day when the sun is direct and the temperature is at its highest--generally 2 to 4 p.m..  According to The Old Farmer's Almanac, "Heat continues building up after noon, when the sun is highest in the sky, as long as more heat is arriving at the earth than leaving. By 3 p.m. or so, the sun is low enough in the sky for outgoing heat to be greater than incoming. Sometimes the hottest time is earlier because a weather system moves in with cool air early in the day.".

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​​​Heatwaves are exhausting and uncomfortable, and unfortunately they give no indication of stopping anytime soon, so we need to get smarter about how we manage our days. Indeed, staying indoors during the heatwave might seem like a good idea, but you are at risk of falling into the trap of SAD. Instead, you need to hit a healthy balance of inside and outside activities!


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