Staying Cool In The Last Leg Of Summer

Maybe you’re that lucky person who loves the heat and lives for the summer. Maybe you love sweating without moving. Maybe you crave the challenge of not being able to properly sit down in the car for the first five minutes of your drive because the seat is too hot and you’re trying not to let the belt fully touch your skin. If you’re that person then we salute you. The rest of us will be over here gazing at the distant horizon that promises cozy evenings, changing leaves, and a happy reprieve from the sweltering days of summer.

Fall, we see you, and we can’t wait.

Until everything turns to pumpkin spice, however, we still have some summer heat to get through. The last heat wave of the season is always the most brutal, even for sunshine lovers, so we’ve put together a little survival list to get you through until autumn finally arrives.

1. Cold showers. The best part of coming home after inevitably sweating like crazy – even if it was just the walk from the car to your door – is hopping into a nice, cool shower and rinsing it all away. Bonus points if you take your ice-cold beer in with you (shower beers are a thing and they’re great).
2. Since you can’t stay in the shower forever we recommend soaking a bandana with cool water and sticking it in the freezer for an hour. Just when you feel like you’re overheating pull that sucker out and wrap it around your neck or lay it across your forehead. Instant relief! This is also great for your pup – remember, if you’re overheating so are they!
3. Flavored ice cubes. It’s important to stay super hydrated in the heat, so make drinking water more fun by freezing berries, lemon, or cucumber bits in your ice cubes. It gives your water a nice, subtle flavor while keeping it cold and not adding a bunch of sugar and calories.
4. Get out of town. The heat is always more tolerable if you’re doing something fun. Even if you’re just escaping to the next town over, find a way to take a little getaway and feel like you’re treating yourself. Suddenly the sun isn’t the enemy!
5. Get some culture. Museums are notoriously super air conditioned, and often have free or discounted days. Get a hit of history or find inspiration while staying cool for a couple of hours.
6. When in doubt…ice cream. I don’t think we need to say much more.