The heat of summer is upon us, and boy, can we feel it. The country has seen record temperatures these past couple of days. Temperatures in Kathmandu alone rose to a recorded 35 degree Celsius, the highest in three years, and there certainly are times when we feel like dumping our heads in an ice bucket or jumping into a swimming pool with out clothes on. But it's best we refrain; there are other comparatively more clever, low-cost tricks, which will help you keep your cool.
The Week brings you a few suggestions.
The National Sleep Foundation recommended placing a damp washcloth in the freezer to create an easy, cooling compress. Placing the frozen cloth on your wrists or any pulse points will bring an icy sensation to your body. If you do not have an ice pack, leave your wrists under cold, running water for 30 seconds. This will cool the blood in your veins and provide instant relief.
Load Up on Spices
While it may sound strange, eating spicy foods can actually cool your body down. The heat of your dish will make you sweat and, in turn, cool you off naturally. Now here's your excuse to get your hands in that pickle jar! Spicy curries or salsa and other similar summer snacks also do the trick.
As far as your daily diet is concerned though, eat light. There's a reason we reach for salads in the summer. They're easier to digest than, say, a fatty hamburger, which leaves you feeling sluggish in the high heat. So go for fruits and vegetables, which are watery and help keep you hydrated and cooler.
Use the Products You Already Have
You can turn everyday products into a cooling sensation simply by storing them in the refrigerator. Sunscreen, lotions, toners, creams and even perfume can all be kept safely in the fridge to give you a refreshing lift upon application. Experts confirm these products can be kept in the refrigerator and applied cool. As the temperature hits the mid 30s these days, even small tricks like these go a long way in helping us feel refreshed.
Create a Faux AC
If it's hot but not humid, you can make yourself a makeshift air conditioner. To emulate the breeze of an air-conditioner, place a shallow bowl of ice in front of a fan and enjoy the breeze. As the ice melts, then evaporates, it will cool you off.
Drink Up but Avoid Caffeine, Alcohol
Especially after being outside in hot weather, it is important to hydrate and replenish your body. Nutritionists recommend water and juices. They also caution against iced tea or anything with caffeine as some people perspire more as a result. Further, as refreshing as it may sound, beer, wine or hard liquor are also poor options. Alcohol dehydrates and should be avoided during scorching heat.
Stay Cool While You Sleep
When you're asleep, you can't actively combat the heat. There are plenty of ways to stay cool at night so you can sleep comfortably despite the heat. With a little effort you can make a "cold compress." All you have to do is fill a cotton sock with rice, tie the sock with twine, and freeze it for two hours before bedtime. Then slide it between the sheets. Rice retains cold temperatures for a long period because it's dense and starchy. Some have even been known to go that extra mile and put their bed sheets in the fridge before bedtime. It's said to be a sure shot way to ensure a cool stupor.
Spritz, Vent, repeat
Keep a spray bottle in the refrigerator, and when it gets hot, give yourself a good squirt. It's all about thermal regulation: as the water evaporates, it cools you. Also run a fan and an air conditioner simultaneously. You can use the air conditioner at lower power and still feel cool if the fan is blowing over you. That's because the air conditioner removes humidity from the air while the fan helps evaporate sweat and moves heat away from your body. (Note: Fans don't cool a room; they just make people feel cooler, so shut them off before you leave.)
Keep Your Computer Cool
It's very important to keep your equipment's cool, especially in hot weather. If you don't have the best cooling system—especially if your home isn't air-conditioned—you're are probably exploring better options to keep your gadgets like computers safe. Let your computer take a nap. Set it to go into low-power "sleep" mode if you are away from it for more than 10 minutes and it will give off less heat. When you're finished for the day, shut the machine completely. Despite what some IT guy may have told you years ago, shutting down and restarting modern-day computers won't put undue strain on the hardware. The upcoming heat is also a great excuse to go inside your desktop and start blowing out all the dust. A cleaner computer will run a bit cooler, and it'll help you avoid a indoor fire due to excess heat.
The Lights
It's often a no brainer. During summer it is best if we switch off the lights whenever possible. The room automatically becomes a lot cooler. However, since it isn't practical go stumbling in the dark all the time, you could change the bulbs to energy efficient bulbs. A long-lasting compact fluorescent bulb is believed to produce about 70 percent less heat than standard incandescents.