Brutally hot is the new hot and maybe the new normal, so try some of my cool tips for how to keep cool and avoid insomnia.
Start by remembering all that snow the past couple of winters and thinking cool. Try to channel how you felt walking the dog at night last January. Or maybe you took a ski trip and can close your eyes and recall how shivery you were on the ski lift.
Cool Tips for How to Keep Cool and Avoid Insomnia:
- Place sheets in the freezer for a couple of hours before bedtime and then use them to make your bed before you go to sleep.
- Put an ice pack in a sock and place it in your bed.
- Fill a hot water bottle with ice water and place it in your bed.
- Fill a pan with ice and use a fan beside it to blow cool air onto yourself.
- Use your head: Wear a wet bandana.
- Keep hair off your neck.
- Cool your neck with a wet cloth or ice pack.
- Wear a hat with a brim or a cap backwards to keep sun off your neck.
- Wet your hair and the evaporation will cool your head.
- Soak a t-shirt or even just the sleeves and put on a fan
- Keep hands, feet, neck, face and ears cool, as they have temperature sensors.
- Run cold water on each wrist for 10 seconds.
- Soak feet in cold water; add ice, lemon, mint and/or flower to your foot spa.
- Go in the basement or lowest level and lie on the floor.
- Keep cool cucumber slices handy to place on your eyes, forehead and neck.
- Take a cool shower or bath; float some ice cubes in the tub.
- While you are there enjoy a cool bathtub buffet.
- Drink icy drinks.
- Wear sleeveless or short-sleeved clothing that is light-colored and especially lightweight and above all that is loose.
- If you are in the sun, take a tip from those in uber-hot climates and cover yourself with long, white, loose clothing.
- Walk at a the mall for exercise, or pace at home if you have air conditioning; talk to a friend or listen to music while going up and down the stairs.
- Keep a few spray bottles of water in the fridge.
- Pour cold water into your hat.
- Apply cold water to your wrists and temples
- Eat spicy foods; they make you sweat and then you feel cooler as the perspiration evaporates.
- Graze rather than indulge in large meals.
- Open a window when showering to reduce heat and humidity from the warm water.
- Turn off fans when not in the room. Fans do not lower the temperature and the motor actually makes the room warmer.
- Avoid alcohol and caffeine as they dehydrate you.
- NEVER leave pets or children alone in a car, even if you crack open a window!
And, it would be especially cool, if you see a homeless person to offer him or her a bottle of water. I did that yesterday and was rewarded with a big appreciative smile.
What additional ideas do you have for keeping cool?
More "Cool" Household Tips:
