How to survive the heatwave

By  Olivia Goldhill

1. Lie on the floor 

Hot air rises and so if you need a quick cool down, it’s best to get low. The floor may not be the most comfortable resting spot but at least you’ll be away from warmer air currents. 

2. Breathe deep 

Even breathing can help you stay cool. Yoga has a cooling breathing technique, where you roll your tongue and breathe slowly through the mouth, to help lower body heat and ease stress. Breathe in through your rolled tongue (or, if you’re not genetically able to, purse the lips) and exhale through the nose. Breathing through the mouth should allow your saliva cool the air you breathe before it enters your lungs. 

3. Cover up 

Some people prefer to shed their clothes in the heat, but keep your cool — and your modesty — with long loose clothes in natural fibres. People living in the hottest countries will often cover themselves from head to toe, which can help to shade the skin and protect the body from the sun. 

4. Don’t fan yourself 

At least, don’t fan yourself with your hands. Although this will create a rush of air and make you feel temporarily cooler, the vigorous action uses a lot of energy and will raise your body temperature in the long run. If you’re going to fan yourself, use a piece of paper or flexible object with a large surface area to create a fanning movement without putting in much effort yourself. 

5. Use a herbal remedy 

Certain herbs are used for their cooling qualities and, according to traditional herbalists, can help fight the heat when eaten or when used on the skin, such as in a soap or lotion. Mint is an obvious choice, with plenty of mint body washes available and delicious in a cooling lemonade, but chamomile, dandelion leaf, hibiscus, and raspberry leaf can also help. 

6. Eat chilli 

A spicy curry may be the last thing you fancy on a hot afternoon, but chilli can help cool the body by making you sweat. It’s no coincidence that some of the hottest locations worldwide have the spiciest food and eating a lot of chilli can lower your temperature even while heating up your mouth. 

7. Put ice in front of your fan 

If you have an electric floor fan, put cups full of ice in front of it. The ice cools surrounding air and the fan can then blow that air towards you. Together, this fan and ice combination can help beat the most insufferable heat wave. 

8. Cool your pillow 

Wrap your pillow in a plastic bag and then put in the fridge throughout the day, so when you come to sleep at night you’ll have a lovely cool place to rest your head. Your temples are also pulse points, where veins are close to the skin’s surface, and cooling these areas will help reduce heat throughout your body. 

9. Avoid big meals 

Eating a lot in one go will only make you feel hotter, as digestion uses a lot of energy and generates body heat. If you want to stay cool, eat small amounts of cold food throughout the day, instead of stockpiling your body’s work after one big meal. 

10. Close your curtains 

Keep your curtains closed during the day to shade your rooms and prevent the sun from getting in. This won’t be pleasant if you’re home at the time, but while you’re out it makes sense to stop sunlight from heating up your room. 

11. Turn off your fan 

Before you leave the house, you should also be sure to turn off your fan. Fans work by pushing air around, and while that rush of air creates a cool sensation, all that movement actually heats the air up. So turn your fan off while you’re gone to save electricity and keep the room cool. 

 (Rex) 

12. Run fans counter clockwise 

The direction of ceiling fans can make a big difference. Ceiling fans should run counter clockwise, as a clockwise movement will create an updraft and force warm air down. So before you invest in a new fan, make sure your old one is moving the right way. 

13. Use water 

We all know water is the best way to stay cool, but when a swimming pool isn’t handy, there are clever ways to make a little water go along way. Dab water to the body areas where heat tends to gather, and also to pressure points where a little water will help cool your whole system. Wrists, temples, elbows and joint creases are good places to start. 

 (Getty) 

14. Soak an item of clothing 

Wet t-shirt competitions may not be your style but there are more subtle way to have the same effect. Soak a pair of socks in cold water or else drench a hair band. The water will keep you cool as it slowly evaporates. 

15. Wear light colours 

Dark colours absorb more heat than light ones, so stay clear of black. Not only is it a depressing to colour to wear mid-summer, but it will also make you feel more hot. White, beige and light pastel colours are the best shades to wear to keep your skin cool. 

16. Turn off electrical items 

Most electric objects give out heat so turn off all incandescent light bulbs, your computer and your TV. That one light bulb may not seem like much of a heat risk compared to more traditional means of lighting (fire) but collectively, they really can make a difference. 

 For safety reasons it’s best to keep the front door closed (Rex) 

17. Open the door 

Circulating air throughout a room is just as important as letting in fresh air. Doors should be opened along with windows and an open doorway can make a big difference to room temperature. For safety reasons it’s best to keep the front door closed but if you favour cool temperatures over privacy then keep any doors within your home wide open. 

18. Paint your roof 

This may be a little extreme for some but if the heat is really getting to you, then you might want to consider painting your roof white. A lighter colour will reflect the sun and help keep the entire building cool. The only problem comes in winter, when you’ll have to climb back up that ladder to prepare for the colder months. 

19. Breath into ice cup 

Holding a cup of ice is a favourite way to cool down, but for an extra blast of artic air, hold the cup over your mouth and breathe into it. This will then force out any cold air already in the cup and create a cool breeze to help soothe dreams of air conditioning. 

20. Sleep on bamboo 

A bamboo mat allows air to circulate and is cool to the touch, so if you struggle to sleep because of the heat, ditch those layers of sheets for a more oriental approach. Or if you’re not quite prepared to leave the comforts of your mattress, try hanging your sheets in a cold area throughout the day — or even wrap them in plastic and put them in the fridge — so you’ll have a cool night’s sleep.