7 fun & smart ways to cool down during a heatwave
It's heatwave season and we’ve all been there during this time at night, tossing and turning in bed, struggling to find a comfortable position to sleep in without sweating buckets, and ending up falling asleep at 3 am. IT IS AWFUL.
So let's be cool as a cucumber together. We've put together 7 fun and smart ways you can cool down during a heatwave. It might sound a bit crazy, but trust us on this..
- Freeze your sheets
Freeze your top sheet for a couple of hours before going to bed can help you to chill down. It won’t keep you cool all night but will give you a brief respite from the heat and help you fall asleep easier.
Leiho tip: You can also freeze your socks!
- Be creative with fans
Have an electric fan at home? Here are some tricks to make your room cooler with your fan:
- Play with their direction
- Set your ceiling fan to run counter-clockwise or point your standing fans out the windows so they push the hot air out.
- Old school aircon
- Put a bowl full of ice in front of a fan. Then switch it on. As the ice melts, the fan will blow cooler air toward you. In less than 5 seconds, you’ve got a perfectly functional AC.
- Get spicy!
It can sound counter-intuitive but eating spicy food can raise your body temperature and make you sweat, which can help you cool off faster. Now, who's down for some spicy takeaway tonight?!
- Play with rice and buckwheat
Did you know that buckwheat could be used for more than gluten-free pancakes? This might sound bizarre but you can stuff your pillow with it to help you stay cooler. The buckwheat will not absorb heat like the usual cotton or polyester pillow stuffings. You can pretend that it's like a bean bag!
Alternatively, are you ice packs? Don’t worry you can create your own by stuffing your socks with some rice. Then you freeze it for at least an hour and you’ve got a perfectly functional ice pack.
- Cool your pulses
Pulses are the spots that release the most heat from your body, like your feet, neck, temple and wrists. Apply ice packs or cold compresses to them can help you cool down faster.
Leiho Tip: Don’t apply ice or cold compresses on your raw skin, cover it with a towel. Keep contact limited to 20 minutes at a time.
- Morning sunshine, start your day earlier!
By waking up early, you can have a break from the heat while the sun is still rising.
It will also allow you to do everything you can't do during the day because of the heat, such as exercise, walking your dog and even using your oven.
- Focus on your body temperature
- Take a cold shower in the mornings or evenings (or both!)
- Keep a bowl of cool water by your bed. If you feel hot in the middle of the night, simply dip your feet in it to cool your body down
- Being smart about your clothes choices: wear loose and light clothing fabrics that can help your skin breathe and naturally circulate body heat.
We hope these tips will be useful and fun to implement and will help you stay cool during the heatwave season!
Written by Camille Lacassagne