It’s Hot Out There! Every summer, it gets hot, and we need to find ways to stay cool when outdoors. You can turn this into a time of comfort or wallow in misery.
The most fun activities happen in the summer because the weather is pleasant, there’s typically a lack of precipitation, and you can move around in the outdoors without a coat or hat on. That said, when the mercury rises beyond your comfort zone, you need to know how to stay cool while spending time outdoors. You don’t want to be the next victim of heat stroke. Use these tips and feel more comfortable in the summertime heat.
Put Your Feet in Some Cold Water
More heat escapes out of your body through your feet and head than anywhere else. This can serve you well when you want to cool down as well. Your feet are a critical part of regulating your body temperature. Put your feet in cold water and begin the cooling process. It might seem a bit harsh at first, especially if the water is extremely cold, but in no time, you’ll feel the cooling effects of the water and be much cooler than you were.
Eat Some Frozen Fruit
This takes a little extra preparation, but when you want to stay cool in the outdoors during the summer, you can do so by eating some frozen fruit. This can make a wonderful snack while watching the ballgame in the heat, and you can pack it in a cooler filled with ice to ensure it stays cold the whole time. This is a great treat for your kids when they’ve been playing outdoors and want a great way to cool down and enjoy a delicious snack.
Wear Loose-Fitting Lightweight Clothing to Stay Cooler
It might seem a bit strange because you see your neighbors jogging by in the heat while wearing skintight clothing, but they are intentionally increasing their body heat. When you want to cool down, lightweight and loose-fitting clothes are the tickets to comfort. A cotton t-shirt is the perfect item to enjoy the warm weather. Cotton absorbs moisture and helps your body stay cooler. This tip can translate to your bed if you put cotton sheets on the bed or wear some cotton pajamas.
A Cold Towel Can Cool Down Your Neck
Similar to your feet, your neck and head are very sensitive to temperature changes. Place a towel in cold water and put it on your neck. If you have time, pop that towel in the freezer before you go outside so that it’s even colder than it would be for you. This is a great way to stay cool in the outdoors and will help the rest of your body cool off when the heat is unbearable.
Before You Go To the Park, Freeze Your Clothes
It sounds strange, but if you’re thinking ahead, you can cool yourself down with some cooler clothes before you head out to the park. When you know you’re going to spend the next few hours outdoors, you can put your clothes in a plastic bag and stick them in the freezer for a few minutes. This won’t keep you cool the entire time, but it’s a great way to begin your time at the park and will ensure you’re not nearly as hot as you would be.
Stay Out of the Sun When it’s the Most Intense
If you’re looking for the most intense sunshine for your tanning time, you’ll want to go out in the heat from 11 am to 2 pm. On the other hand, if you want to stay cool during the summer, stay indoors during these hours when you can. This is the time when the outdoor temperatures will be at the most extreme and could cause trouble for you. If you’re highly susceptible to heat, you want to be aware of the time when you’re outside.
Drink Lots of Water
Water is the best device for cooling your body from the inside. If you can’t stand the taste of plain water, you can put some lemon or a flavor packet in it, but this drink should be almost entirely water. This is an essential element to keeping you cool and ensuring your survival when it’s hot outside. When you go out, if you’re sweating a lot, it’s important you replace this lost fluid with some water to avoid dehydration.
Put Iced Water on your “Hot Zones”
Some of the hottest places on our bodies can help us cool down the fastest with some cold and icy water. These areas are your ankles, behind the knees, at your elbow bends, on your neck, and at your temples. If you don’t want to pour water on these areas, simply place your cold water bottle on them while you’re drinking your water. This way, you’ll cover two of these tips at one time and enjoy the cooling benefits.
Look for a Shady Spot; This Should be Pretty Obvious
One of the best ways to stay cooler when you’re spending time outdoors is to find the shady place to be and stay there. Sometimes it can be hot in the shade as well, but at least you don’t have the sun beating down on your trying to cook you for breakfast. When you lower your exposure to the sun, you begin to cool down. This won’t be the same rapid cooling putting cold water in some areas offers, but you’ll enjoy the shade more than the sun when you’re hot.
Stay Closer to the Ground
Why do people love to lay down in the grass when it’s summer? It’s not because they are lazy, although summer is the best time for a lazy afternoon nap on the grass. Being closer to the ground is cooler than being up higher. Heat rises, and if you want to stay cooler, get down and enjoy the coziness next to the ground. Of course, some extremely hot days won’t offer much relief at ground level. If you’ve ever walked across hot sand on the beach, you know what we’re talking about.
Its summer! This is the best time for some outdoor fun, but you need to stay cool and avoid heat problems. Use these tips to enjoy a more comfortable and cooled-down summer.
