by Victoria Moss

Created on: July 22, 2008

Summer is my least favourite season of the year. I am simply not a "summer person" so to survive during periods of intense heat I have developed a number of strategies that make life more comfortable for me. They may be appropriate for you too.

There are three aspects of our lives that need to be considered: the working day, the at-home situation and leisure activities.

1. Survival at work.

This is the time when the biggest effort has to be made. The job still has to be done and there will inevitably be people around who simply thrive on the heat. Avoid complaining because they will not sympathise with you; simply try to "grin and bear it."

If, like me, you work indoors and do not have an air-conditioned workspace, it helps to open the door at each end of the room, creating a current of moving air. Close the blinds of all windows on which the sun is shining. Leave overhead fans running at low speed to draw up the warmer air. A pedestal fan directed at your desk, also running at low speed, reduces humidity and lessens the discomfort of perspiration.

Turn off lighting if you normally have it on; you will still be able to see well enough once your eyes adjust, the dimmer conditions are soothing and you will avoid the extra heat generated by the lights.

Have cool drinking water on your desk and drink as often as possible. Avoid soft drinks, which make you feel bloated, do not really quench your thirst and cause increased loss of body fluids. Also avoid coffee, which is a stimulant and will increase your sensitivity to the heat. If you must have a flavoured drink, iced tea is soothing.

Eat light snacks. A salad sandwich with some fruit, both from the refrigerator, will tempt your appetite while maintaining your energy levels.

Avoid rushing. You can move around calmly while still managing to get tasks done. Stay relaxed and try to avoid stressing over any situation. Anxiety makes your heart pump faster, increasing blood flow and therefore raising body heat.

Do not attack those extra tasks that you have accumulated if the day happens to be particularly hot. There will be cooler days to come when you can catch up on the backload. The scorching days should be those when you finish as early as possible and head home in the comfort of your (hopefully) air-conditioned car.

2. At home.

All of the above also apply to coping with the heat at home.

Although you may be suffering in the heat yourself, remember that for babies, the elderly and for pets at home, heat is more than uncomfortable:

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