It’s finally summer! Of course we all love the weather, but it can get really hot and uncomfortable at times especially if you don’t live near water or do not have an AC. My husband and I live in Washington state (It barely gets over 80 degrees during summer ), and we are currently going through a heat wave without an AC. So let me share with you what we’ve been doing to keep ourselves and the dog as cool as possible. 

1- Have a fan on hand. It’s not going to seem like it does a lot, but when it’s your only option, it still works great. The best would be a rotating fan, so it hits every corner of the room instead of just staying in one single spot. You can even make your own little AC by placing a cup of ice cubes in front of the fan, the fan blowing on the iced cubes will make the air colder, which can be a great temporary solution. 

2- Close the windows and the blinds. I find it helpful to keep the windows shut, and having the blinds closed as well, you’ll be able to keep the cool air inside as much as possible. Try to stay in the rooms that do not have direct sunlight, and try to relax and move as little as possible. Movements will make you feel hotter. 

3- Get yourself some facial spray, and spray your face and body when feeling a little too hot. Especially at night, if the temperatures won’t go down, it will help you stay as cool as possible. You can use it as well to spray on the sheets before going to bed. 

4- Drink plenty of water. Drinking water with ice or refreshing drinks, it’s the best way to keep yourself cool. As you get hot, your body will dehydrated faster than usual, so drinking is essential to keep you hydrated and the iced water will lower your body temperature and will help you stay cool. To remind you to drink, keep a water bottle near you, and make it fun by adding lemon slices to your water, for example, and to give it some flavor!

5- Taking a bath or a shower, is the best way to stay cool. Same effect as drinking iced water, it will lower your body temperature for a little while and will help you feel a little better. Wetting your hair as well and letting it air dry will keep you cool longer and feeling “fresh”.

6- This is going to seem pretty obvious, but wear light pieces of clothing, like linen for example. It is super lightweight and barely gets hot. Wearing shorts and a lightweight top or a light dress would be the best option to stay cool. And if you have long hair, put it in a bun or in a ponytail, as the back of your neck won’t be covered anymore, you’ll sweat less!

7- Stay away from hot food, eating fresh fruit, salads or even ice cream, will keep your body temperature low. I personally love eating fresh seasonal fruit during summer especially during a heat wave, fruit in general contain a lot of water so in addition to cooling you down they’ll keep you hydrated. 

8- If it gets too hot and unbearable, leave the house, go near water, go to the beach or to the pool, go on a drive and turn the AC on in the car or go to the mall or a shopping center they will definitely have AC there. These are just temporary solution, but they should definitely help you stay cool! 

Xx Charline