When you’re overheated, there’s nothing like a few classic summertime activities to refresh and rejuvenate. Go for a swim in a pool, lake or ocean, or run through a sprinkler. Make a spritz out of peppermint tea to keep in the refrigerator for a quick cooldown, WonderHowTo says, or make your own concoction of water, citrus, mint, cucumber and other botanicals. If you’re really feeling the heat, apply cool towels to pulse points on your wrists, ankles and neck. Or just throw in the towel for a couple of hours and enjoy a show in the air-conditioned shade — or, darkness — of a movie theater.
Tag: summer
Seek out Shade to Stay Cool
You can keep your cool by blocking some of that hot summer sun, says Wanderlust. Draw the curtains or blinds to keep from superheating your living quarters, and seek out a shade tree, awning, tent or parasol when outdoors. If you’re outdoors and on the move, wear a wide-brimmed hat, light colors, and breathable fabrics such as linen and cotton to bring your own shade with you. Short on summer styles? Look for fashions and other warm-weather supplies at thrift and secondhand stores supplied by donations to ClothingDonations.org.
Hydrate to Keep Your Cool
Proper hydration is key to comfort when the temperatures soar, says LifeHacker. Water is like a coolant that keeps the body cool — and if you’re sweating it out, it must be replaced. Drink plenty of water (preferably uncarbonated water, which has proven more effective for hydration). Don’t rule out other beverages when you’re trying to keep cool, though; even coffee and beer (in moderation) can aid in hydration. Coffee and other caffeinated beverages tend to increase the body’s temperature, however, temporarily thwarting hydration’s cooling effect, while excessive alcohol intake depletes the body of fluids and nutrients.
Use Ventilation to Beat the Summer Heat
Last week’s heat wave may have only been a harbinger of what’s to come in August. To beat the heat, proper ventilation is your best strategy, Real Simple says. If you don’t have air conditioning in your home, place fans in the windows facing outward to draw hot air out of the house. Fans can also add to your air-conditioned comfort by circulating the drier, cooler air by adding a gentle breeze inside the home. And you can make your own air conditioner by placing a bowl of ice in front of a fan — and placing yourself in front of that.
Stay Organized All Summer Long
Everyone wants to make the most of their summer leisure time, but the added burden of managing all of that extra summertime stuff can be overwhelming. Let’s say you love going to the beach, for example. Do you really need two coolers, several inflatables and a ladder golf set to have fun?
That junk takes up space in your car and home, and you’ll have to find an out-of-the-way place to put it when summer is over. That’s why you should keep your summer stuff organized and at the ready for when you need it, while also storing only the essentials in the off season.
By this point in the season, you should have already disposed of any summer clothing you haven’t worn this year and/or didn’t wear last year by bagging it up and #donating it to ClothingDonations.org. That stuff has #cluttered your closets for months, tempting you with thoughts of summer fun — and guess what? It hasn’t delivered.
When it comes to a summer outing, try to keep the things you have to bring (and later find a place for) at a minimum. If you’re headed to the beach, pack a bag of the essentials — sunblock, towels, (deflated) inflatables and sunglasses — and keep it at the ready so the day doesn’t become all loading the car and no fun.
To keep from gathering too much stuff, the Krazy Coupon Lady says, borrow instead of buying. Public libraries are a great source of books, movies and even power tools, and when you’re done using them, you can simply return them. Another suggestion? Read digital books and magazines to keep from having to shelve your summer reading long-term. And always borrow or rent a kayak, canoe or personal watercraft unless you know you’ll use it every week.
To keep summer-only stuff from creating #clutter throughout the home, establish “drop zones,” Simplify 101 says. “A hook or shelf by the main entrance/exit of your home makes a terrific drop zone. As an added bonus, this area can also serve as a launch pad when you’re ready to head out on your next summer outing.”
Summer is all about relaxation. To maximize your R&R, make it simple for yourself, your family and friends to get out and enjoy the weather without making packing, organization and storage a burdensome chore before and long after the outing. You’ll never miss that extra stuff.