Over Twenty Ways to Stay Cool in Summer

For those of us in the southern hemisphere, we’ve been through the mild, cool spring, and now we’re heading towards the sweltering, humid, lazy and agonizing days of summer.

 I’ve always been more of a cool weather fan, as it’s not hard to put on a jacket and stay warm, but in summer over here, where the temperatures can reach and exceed 40◦C (104◦F), and greater the nearer you get to the equator, it gets a little sticky…or sweaty.

Some of the things that I will talk about here then might seem obvious, but some you might not have tried or heard of, and they might even make sense.

 1. It’s best to have a pool in your garden, but if you don’t, then think about getting something like a small paddle pool and filling it up with water from a hose.

2. Swimming in the nude is actually a little cooler than wearing a swimming costume or bikini. Some trunks, especially the ones with a lining on the inside get hot quickly in the sun. 

3. To avoid getting sun burnt, always wear a good quality sun tan lotion, and keep an after sun lotion as well, just in case. 

4. To avoid getting the soles of your feet burnt and damaged, wear sandals or flops. 

5. Sometimes, around the pool, the bricks get so hot that they can also burn the hell out of your feet. In this case, just take a bucket with a little water and throw it over the bricks to cool them down. 

6. Always make sure you have sunglasses on when you go out to protect your eyes from the sun. 

7. Have an umbrella handy when lying beside the pool. 

8. The perfect time to go in the pool is the late afternoon and evening when it gets a little cooler outside. 

9. If you can’t wait until the late afternoon to go in the pool, stay in the shade if possible. My pool is surrounded by trees, so I’m lucky. 

10. You might think it’s a good idea to walk around shirtless on a hot summer’s day, but not only is it repulsive if you have a paunch, but it’s just begging to get even more burnt by the sun because you’re not protected by any clothing. 

11. Dressing in black will attract the heat, whereas white will repel it. 

12. Make sure to have fans in the house. Overhead ones actually work better and probably cost less to buy and operate than several smaller pedestal or desk fans. Just don’t jump into the ceiling fans (more people do this than you think). 

13. Having air-conditioning in your home and especially in your car is supposed to be the best way to stay cool. 

14. If you’re worried about using up electricity by having all those fans around, you can try one of those hand fans you always see in the movies, or you could try palm fronds and ask (or pay) your significant other to fan you. 

15. When it’s boiling hot outside and you dare not venture into the pool, try having a shower or a cold bath instead. 

16. You can also try a sponge bath, or use a flannel, where you wet it and dab it all over yourself. This will cool you down because of the evaporation, and you lose heat. 

17. You can try foot spas or if you don’t have one, get a shallow bucket or container and put your feet in it. 

18. Closing the curtains or blinds also prevents a lot of the heat from entering a room. 

19. Take the duvet out if the cover and just sleep with the cover. When it gets a little cooler, especially in the early morning, the cover should be enough to keep you warm. 

20. I’ve heard that drinking something warm on a hot day will actually cool you down more than if you were to drink something cold. It’s a fact, and I’ve read it up too. 

21. You can try taking some ice blocks and wrapping them up in a wet towel, or use an ice pack or an ice brick to cool you down. 

22. Try storing some clothes in a fridge and wearing them the next day. 

23. Try storing a drink in a freezer for a few hours. It will turn into what’s called a slush puppy, or a popsicle. 

24. Run through a sprinkler. 

25. Sitting by the sea, a river, a waterfall or a dam will even make you feel cooler, especially if it’s breezy. 

26. Wear a cap. 

27. If you’ve got long, think hair, try cutting it short for summer. 

28. Move to the northern hemisphere where it’s cold, or vice versa. 

29. Move to Russia or Siberia where it’s always cold.

"Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it."

                                                                                  - Russel Baker

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