16 Ways to Cool Yourself This Summer

Summer time is the most awaited season of the year because that’s when people go on vacations and have loads to fun. But it also comes with a set of problems including sunburns, heat cramps, dehydration and heat stroke. As the scorching heat of the sun makes its way into our world, it is a struggle for most of us to beat the heat and stay cool. The humidity and intense heat makes it practically impossible to spend the day comfortably or even sleep through the night. While an air conditioner is the obvious solution to this problem, the monthly electric bills can take up a good amount of your money. Fortunately, there are several other ways by which you can stay cool this summer without using an air conditioner. Let’s see what are ways to cool yourselves this summer:

1. Drink Plenty of Water

The first thing to do to prevent yourself from getting hot and sweaty is to keep the body temperature down.  This can be done effectively by filling your body with plenty of cooling fluids and foods. Keep drinking as much water as possible to stay cool. If you don’t like the taste of water, try adding orange or lemon for flavor. In addition to drinking water, you can also eat foods that have a higher water content such as cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, watermelon, spinach, cherries, grapes and strawberries.

[Read more about Amazing benefits of drinking water ]

2. Frozen Towels

Take a few wash cloths and soak them in water. Remove the excess water from these cloths , roll them and then place them in the freezer for a few hours until they become solid. Take them out and then press against your skin to have a cooler and relaxing experience. Placing a cool washcloth over your wrists or neck will help bring down your body temperature much faster than placing it over your forehead, even though it may feels good to do so.

3. Try a Frozen Fan

No, I’m not talking about freezing your fan! Try placing a big bowl full of ice in front of a fan. This helps in circulating cool air around the room, bringing down the temperature of the room as well as your body temperature.

4. Stock Your Freezer with Your Favorite Ice Treats

A slushie has been proven to improve your endurance during the hot summer days. So crush up some ice and make your favorite slushie and eat it often, especially when your are going outdoors. You can also cool your body and get the nutrition you need by making frozen protein smoothies. There are endless choices and so don’t just stick to water and ice.

[Read more about Health benefits of Watermelon ]

5. Dress Appropriately

When it comes to clothing, the best and most comfortable way to stay cool this summer is to wear nothing. But if you are not in a situation to do that, use natural fiber summer clothing made of loosely-woven natural fabrics  such as cotton, silk or linen instead of  materials like rayon, polyester or other artificial fibers. Make sure to wear light colors because darker colors absorb the heat of the sun and stay warmer for a longer time compared to light or white clothing that reflects heat and light.

6. Go Ice Skating

Ice skating in the summer ! Well, it may sound weird but several cities have indoor rinks that are open to the public for free skate hours. Don’t worry if you don’t have your own skates because most of these places have rentals in almost all sizes for all ages. So if you are looking for a way to cool off this summer, head to the local indoor rink and have a spin on the ice.

[Read more about 14 Natural ways to handle sunstroke ]

7. Hit the Shower

Whenever you feel like you can’t bear the heat, immediately head to the shower. The water trickling down your skin lowers your body temperature and cools you down. This happens due to the evaporation of water, which leads to sweating. Another way to achieve the evaporative effect is by misting you body with a spray bottle filled with cold water. Yet another very effective way to cool off would be to take a shower and not towel off completely. Then if you go and sit  beside a fan, your body will experience that cool and relaxing feeling.

8. Cucumbers can Cool You Down

Cut a thin slices of cucumber, which is kept in the fridge and then place the slices on your forehead and eyes. The cooling and soothing properties of cucumber brings immense relief and helps you stay cool in the scorching heat.

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9. Shield Your Windows

Almost 40% of the heat in your home comes in through windows, especially those windows that face the east and west directions. This can be blocked by using shades, curtains, and blinds of light and reflective color. Make sure these curtains and blinds  closely fit the windows. Buying a transparent, heat-control window film and applying it to your windows is another great way to minimize the amount of heat that enters the home through the windows.

10. Switch to Cooler Light Bulbs

An incandescent bulb emits 90% of its energy and since most homes have quite a number of these bulbs, a lot of heat will be generated. A wise thing to do would be to replace incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs, which radiates 75% less heat energy. Another important thing to keep in mind is that other appliances in your home such the computers, TV, refrigerator and dishwashers also generate heat. So it is recommended to switch off electronics or limit the use of these appliances as much as you can.

11. Eat Spicy Food

If  you haven’t noticed, people living in hottest locations mostly eat hot and spicy food. Why? Because spicy food makes you sweat, which in turn helps in lowering your body temperature. When you eat spicy food, it increases your internal temperature, leading to an increase in blood circulation. As a result, you start sweating and the evaporation of your moisture cools you off.  Similarly a cup of hot tea or coffee cools you down faster than cold drinks. Eating spicy food may not be pleasant for many people, but it is definitely worth trying out.

12. Chill Your Bed Sheets

Chilling your bed sheets in the fridge or freezer a few hours before you go to bed can help keep you cool enough to have a good night’s sleep. Just fold your cotton bed sheet, place it in a resealable freezer bag, and pop it in the freezer. Take out the sheet just before you go to bed.

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13. Lick Your Wrists

Another surprisingly easy and effective way to cool off is to lick your wrists or hold your wrists under cold water for about ten seconds. This is actually an age-old trick used by monkeys to bring down their body temperature. But it works for humans too! The pulse points control your overall body temperature and by cooling these points you can reduce the blood flow to these regions temporarily, which in turn helps in stopping your body from overheating. This method will help keep your temperature down for at least an hour. You can also wrap ice cubes in a long piece of cloth and tie it around pulse points like your wrists or the backs of your knees. This will also help cool down your body very fast.

14. Use a Hot Water Bottle

Take a hot water bottle and fill it with cold water and some crushed ice cubes. Place the cold water bottle on the backs of your knees or by your feet. If you want to take the bottle to bed, avoid the ice cubes as it will cause condensation. Instead just fill it with cold water.

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15. Spray Bottle on the Go

Take a spray bottle, fill it up with water and place it in the freezer for some time. Once it cools, take it out from the freezer and take it with you whenever you go out. As the ice melts, you will have a supply of cold water. Refill as required and keep the bottle refrigerated. Spraying your body with cold water is so refreshing and cooling.

16. Hang Out by the Water

The advantage of hanging out by the water is that there is always breeze in these areas. So during the early hours of the day or the late evenings, head to the beach or waterside parks to cool off.

The summer heat can get excruciating sometimes but that doesn’t mean that you have to stay indoors all the time. Keeping cool at high temperatures isn’t just about staying comfortable. It also helps in preventing many heat related problems such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The extremely high heat of this summer  doesn’t have to make you miserable or break the bank. By trying out the surprisingly effective and smart tactics mentioned here, you are well on your way to enjoy your summer holidays. The great thing about these tactics is that they are easy, effective and   cost very little. Anyone can do it and they do a great job of helping you cool yourself this summer.

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