hot hot hot: how to stay cool in the summer heat

Summer can be fantastic, I love summer! No school, sandy beaches, freedom! But, as most of us know, with the freedom comes the heat, the all consuming, stuffy, smothering heat. I live in Canada, so I know I've got it good compared to places further south, but every once in a while when I'm in the city, it just gets so. hot. So, here are a few things that I do to help beat the heat and stay cool.

1. Hydrate

I know it's obvious but I cannot stress this enough - DRINK WATER. Drink a lot of water, every time you're in the kitchen, when you're bored, DRINK IT UP. Not only does water keep you alive (!!!!), it's also good for your skin! Whoa, added bonus. Please, go drink some right now, I'll wait.

Done? Alright let's continue to...

2. Clothes

Also kind of obvious but I find it can help a lot. I love skirts in the summer, they feel so amazing, especially when there is a breeze. They can be so much more comfortable than jean shorts. Also, wearing white can be a huge help, not only does it absorb less heat but it can also disguise the inevitable sweat stains that come with the heat. 

3. At home

Ok so now you're dressed in white with a skirt and a waterbottle, but what are you going to do? If you are like me and live in a "nice old house" that doesn't have air conditioning, you're house is going to get hot, especially if you're in a heat wave that lasts days without cooling down at night. If it does get cool at night, make sure you open your windows before you go to bed, and then close them up again in the morning, this traps the cool night air in your house. Just make sure you keep the windows and doors closed throughout the day. 

Also, INVEST IN FANS. Floor fans, ceiling fans, all kinds of fans, because if it doesn't cool down, you are gonna want them. Not only do fans give you a nice cool breeze, they also move the air around your house, promoting air circulation and keeping the air from getting heavy from just sitting there. Another thing that helps with air circulation is keeping doors open.

4. Get out

But what if it's still really hot in your house or you are going stir-crazy from being in the house for such a long time. I like to go to my local library, it's a nice walk and they have air conditioning and free wifi. I'll grab a few books and curl up in a chair. Or, I'll walk to a cafe and get some kind of cold drink as a reward, I love Starbuck's Iced Oprah Chai Latte, the Strawberries and Cream Chiller from Coffee Culture, or Sweet Lime iced tea from David's Tea. 

Another thing you can do is go swimming! I'm lucky, there are two really nice swimming pools that I can bike to from my house. Grab some friends and try to get to your local pool! Or, since I can't drive, I'll get my mom or my friend's parents to drive us to a beach, there are a few not too far out of my city.

When it's hot outside, it's not a great time for exploring and hanging out in the city, so take it easy, drink some water, and chill out. (hahah get it?)