I do every summer (it's kind of my thing...).
As a result, I am always on the lookout for ways to cool down. Here is what I've come up with so far:
- Cool showers - wet hair always briefly makes things better.
- Air conditioning (although I only have a small one for the bedroom because they are so expensive!)
- Fans (but sometimes I find air blowing on me painful...)
- Facecloths wrapped around your neck.
- Drinking ice cold beverages!
- Wearing sundresses. All of the time.
- Spending time in shopping centers (for those minutes to hours that I can stand up for...)
- Nap (when I nap my temperature goes down, oddly enough - even without the air conditioner!)
- Spritz water on yourself with a spray bottle!
- If you have a basement - be in it!
- Eat cold food so you don't have to use your stove and oven.
- Do not drink alcohol, as it can cause flushing and hot flashes!
- Popsicles.
(Images from WeHeartIt and Jon's phone)
What am I missing? Are there other great tips for cooling down from my temperature-sensitive friends??
xoxo,
Annie
Annie
11 comments:
Great list, Annie. Here in California's Central Valley, it's over 100 degrees (F) all the time but it usually cools down at night into the 60s.
So the only thing I'd add to your list is to open all the windows (wish I had screened doors too but I don't) and then close the house up tight in the morning as soon as it starts to heat up outside (around 9 a.m.). This keeps the house pretty cool until about 3 in the afternoon. Then it's awful until late evening.
So far I haven't beat the heat. It has in fact, beaten me and left me whimpering in a sweaty puddle. But. Someone left a comment about frozen peas. In the bag, of course. I think I'll buy a bag and see if it works. I won't be eating them though. Frozen, thawed, frozen, thawed would probably be gross.
I am so hot here too. I love the frozen bag of peas ideas. I have fans everywhere and I drink a lot of water, pop, iced tea and.........popsicles!!
When you get in the car, open the windows at least partway & let the hot air escape for a minute or two, while the AC has time to reach full arctic power. I carpooled to summer school with a friend who absolutely refused to have the windows down & AC on at the same time, so I always got to school nice & sweaty. ;(
Wet hair does help- and once at a west Texas retreat center with no AC, yes in the summer, I discovered that a wet towel around the head is even better! It was too hot to sleep otherwise. (Btw, same exact place in the winter is where I "discovered" that body heat escapes out the top of your head- only way I got warm enough to sleep then was by wrapping a scarf around my head XP)
Light is another factor- if your place gets enough natural light during the day, you can avoid using heat-generating light bulbs (btw, fluorescents put out less heat, but they still put out some), but then sunlight coming in the windows can also heat up a room. So can TVs, computers, etc.
Traveling makes me slightly queasy, all that jostling from planes and trains...ecch! Sticking to fresh fruit and water throughout the day helped a ton.
This summer a variation of this trick has helped in my heat-beating quest. During the hottest parts of the day, I stick to high water content foods; for me it's melon, grapes in the morning, cucumbers (I crave them beyond reason in summertime)in the afternoon. A lot of these kinds of fruits and veggies are in season, so it's economical as well.
Keep your shades closed! This kills me since I need natural light, but I also live Florida and like not paying a whole paycheck just into keeping the house cool!
Baby powder- dust it on your skin to avoid stickiness- great to help you fall asleep!
Turn the fan so it faces away from you! It will still draw air over your skin, but not as fiercely as blowing directly on you (that bothers me too, and sometimes I get chills. Being hot and cranky with chills at the same time is NOT fun!)
Soak your feet in cool water! Another body part that vents a lot of heat.
And I know you don't have pets, but I worry about the kitties during the high heat, so I add ice cubes to their water- they love it!
As someone who absolutely cannot handle the heat (and consequently spends the summer whining about how hot it is), I love these tips!
I love your ideas! I understand about the fans. I use them but sometimes I can't stand them blowing right on me. In Las Vegas we're under a heat advisory....112......I don't think there is a way to stay cool unless you stay in the house and lay on the floor!!
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Dana
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Aww thanks Dana!
Also, I'm loving these tips. Going to apply each and every one haha.
Putting a fan in an open window or doorway. I have even put my clothes in the freezer to cool them off. I used to live on the top floor of a apartment bldg..it was sweltering. So grateful now for a/c. I hate the heat.
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