Wim Hof Method

7 Ways to Cool Off during Summer

In the northern hemisphere, July can sometimes hit hard with suffocating heat waves. We’re talking those days where you step outside and straight into molten air. Your deodorant defenses are swiftly overwhelmed, and it feels like you’re being barbecued alive.

Today we’ll be sharing the top 7 ways to creatively survive the heat, and stay cool throughout the summer.

1.

Water is your best friend during these sweltering days. Since it conducts heat much better than air, you can quickly knock down your personal thermostat a few notches by submersing yourself in some good old H₂O.

Here at Wim Hof Method, the number one go-to remedy is of course the classic cold shower: get yourself into ready-for-everything mode by jumping under that showerhead first thing in the morning — but now with the added benefit of starting your day off cool.

Keep it short though! If you rinse off cold for too long, the blood vessels right under your skin will constrict and trap heat inside; then when you're out of the shower, that heat comes rushing back, and you actually end up feeling hotter.

If you’re extra lucky and you have a lake or big natural pool nearby, nothing beats cooling off with a cold plunge and a view.

2.

A clever way to keep cool after your shower or ice bath is by hijacking your body’s so-called “pulse points” — places on your body where blood vessels run close to the skin's surface. Take an ice cube and rub it on your neck, wrist and temples — if you cool the skin there, the blood pulsing right underneath also cools, and spreads that cold throughout your body via convection. 

Just take care not to keep the ice pressed on one spot! If the skin gets too cold, it will cause the vein there to constrict, reducing blood flow and therefore reducing the flux of cold to the rest of your body.

3.

For a more Whimsical but highly effective method, you can wet your favorite shirt, and put it in the freezer for 15-20 minutes. When it comes out all steamy you’ll have your own portable cooling vest! Stick it back in the freezer every hour or so for a recharge, and stay cool all day long.

Did you know: Staying wet is one of the best ways to cool down, because water on the surface of your skin effectively absorbs heat from your body as it evaporates. This is called evaporative cooling, and it’s a key way your body regulates temperature. It’s why we sweat!

4.

Another off-the-wall idea is to go for some spicy tacos. No, seriously. The conceit here is the spices contain capsaicin — a compound that triggers the receptors in your body that make you sweat. And as we’ve just learned, sweat cools you down!

In addition, eating spicy food also shifts your subjective sense of temperature, making the outside heat feel less oppressive by comparison.

5.

If you’re looking to avoid the sun altogether, and you have the luxury of staying indoors, the foot bath is your ticket to bliss. Take a bucket, fill it with water and ice cubes, and put it in front of the sofa or under your desk, where you can rest your feet as you work or read a book. The cold from your toes will be conducted to your whole body, keeping you cool for hours with minimal effort spent.

6.

A great companion to the foot bath is the DIY air conditioner: fill a shallow bowl or tray with ice cubes, and place it in front of a table fan. The cubes will suck up the heat, and leave your room nice and cool.

7.

Besides cooling the skin, you can also choose to deliver cold right to your core. The internet is awash with homemade popsicle recipes that give you a little flavor along with your cooldown. Our favorite healthy variant is simply ice tea powder blended with water. Add lemon juice or mint leaves to taste, and you’re set!

If you’d rather chew on something, frozen grapes are another great high water content option.

Before you head out

✓ Before you brave the sunbeams, try to head out wearing breathable clothing. Give your body that helping hand as it tries to get rid of as much heat as it can. If you have any linen, that’s always a preferred choice. Also try to cover as much skin as possible. You may be tempted to wear a t-shirt and shorts, but under extra blistering rays you can quickly get sunburnt. Long sleeves and a hat is the way!

✓ Lastly, stay hydrated! Keep a water bottle on you and make sure to keep taking sips throughout the scorching day. If you can add in some electrolytes, even better. You will lose some salt and potassium through sweat, and topping those up will keep you feeling that bit sharper.

Looking for more tips?

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