No office air-conditioning? No problem. Here are 13 easy ways to stay cool while working from home in a UK heatwave.
It’s rather hot right now, isn’t it? After a weekend of warm, sunny weather, temperatures in London are set to rise above 30 degrees today (11 July) and later this week as a heatwave hits areas of southern and central England and Wales.
While the prospect of hot weather may not sound like too bad a deal, it’s less than ideal for those still working from home without the blessing of office air conditioning.
At the end of the day, there are only so many ice creams you can eat before you’re well and truly sick of them – and with the heat set to continue for an extended period of time, you’ll probably want a more sustainable solution to keeping cool.
So, what is the secret of keeping cool while WFH during a heatwave? Below, we’ve listed 13 hot weather hacks to help you keep the sweat at bay. You’re welcome.
Shut out the sun
It may seem counterintuitive, but keeping the curtains closed during the day will stop the sun from warming up your home workspace and turning it into an unpleasantly sticky greenhouse.
Dress smart
If wearing no clothes isn’t an option, then dressing in the right materials and shapes is your best bet at staying cool. To make life even easier, you could even wear sweat-wicking workout clothes: you can check out our selection of the best leggings with pockets here, or the best shorts for working out (and relaxing in).
Take your socks off
The human body uses extremities, such as your hands and feet, to regulate your core temperature. This means that, when it’s hot outside, it will use your hands and feet to get rid of excess heat and keep itself from ‘overheating’… but it does mean your feet will get hot fast. Taking off your shoes and socks, then, is a surefire (albeit temporary) route to sheer bliss.
Freeze a hot water bottle
Just as you would in the winter, try using a hot water bottle. Freeze it, though, rather than fill it with boiling water, and sit with it against your feet. Why? Well, your feet and ankles are particularly sensitive to heat, as they have lots of pulse points: popping something cool against them will initiate a cool-down effect over your entire body.
Build your own DIY aircon
Put a glass of ice water (or a bottle of water that you’ve frozen) in front of a fan, and then switch it on. It will create a cool breeze, recreating the icy chill of that air-conditioned office we’ve all come to know and love over the years.
Open the windows after sundown
Opening the windows later in the evening, when the air is cooler, will help to cool the air in your workspace ready for the next day. Then it’s just a matter of resistance: try not to open your windows during the day, as it could let all your cool air out (and all that hot air in).
Avoid caffeine (sorry!)
Your morning coffee can raise your body temperature, which isn’t great if you already feel hot. Swap it for a glass of water instead or, if you prefer your beverages on the hot-side, check out our article on the hot drink that cools you down.
Drink water
You should be drinking around six to eight glasses of water a day at the best of times. When it’s hot outside and you’re sweating more than normal, though, you may need to sip just a little bit more. Remember, if you’re feeling thirsty then you’re already starting to dehydrate, so take regular sips of water to stop this happening.
Also, if you are planning on working out in the heat, make sure you are drinking water correctly while exercising (because, yes, there is a right way of doing it).
Cool your pulse points
Get strategic with your ice packs and press them against the pulse point on your wrist, neck, chest, or temples – aka the spots that release the most heat from the body, and where the veins flow closest to the surface of the skin. This will expedite the cooling-down sensation you’re looking for. Just remember to cover your skin with a towel to protect it, and keep contact limited to 20 minutes at a time.
Note: you can run your wrists under the cold tap for the same effect!
Cold press your neck
A cold flannel against your neck is a clever way to target the part of the brain that senses and regulates body temperature. Fold a flannel in half, douse it in water, and press it against the back of your neck for a wee while. You’ll feel better in no time.
Sit at the table
Sitting with a hot laptop on your knees is a surefire route to hot weather misery. Instead, pop yours on the table (or any hard surface) and work that way. Less convenient, sure, but on the plus side it’ll be better for your posture.
Unplug your charger
Even something as small as a smartphone charger can generate unwanted heat, which increases the room temperature, and can make you feel even hotter. Unplug the electronics you’re not using (including lamps) if you want to cool things down.
And finally… change your working hours (if possible)
If you’re working from home at the moment, consider asking your boss if you can adjust your hours. Start earlier (say 6am) to maximise productivity before the sun hits its highest point in the sky. If you aren’t an early bird, then consider taking a leaf out of Spain’s book and adopt a ‘siesta’, aka a short nap taken in the early afternoon, to avoid the glaze of the midday sun, and working a little later to make up the time lost.
This article was originally published on 28 May 2020, but has been updated throughout.
Images: Getty/Unsplash
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