Beat The Summer Heat

10 Ways to Beat the Summer Heat

 

     If you live in the south, you’ve probably experienced the scorching hot temperatures associated with the summer months.  August is considered the hottest month of the year, but temperatures are already steadily rising during spring and can only get hotter.  If you want to stay active, but dread excruciating temperatures follow these ten easy steps to escape what most people dread.

 

01. Pool side is usually the best side

When temperatures become seemingly unbearable water is a natural outlet for your troubles.  Many people just want to find the nearest pool and dive right in.  If you don’t have your own personal pool, there are various locations where you can escape the heat and dive into cool water.  Recreational facilities like the YMCA or Sportsplex house state of the art pools if you are willing to pay.  A membership is usually required to be able to use these facilities, but whoever said beating the heat would be cheap? 

02. The beach is calling

Hitting the beach is always a good way to relax, think, and stay cool during the summer months.  While Gulf Shores is probably the most publicized beach in Alabama, there are other alternatives that could be closer to your own backyard.  Guntersville National Park has a beach located in Guntersville, AL, approximately two hours from the Birmingham area.  Oak Mountain State Park located on the outskirts of Birmingham also has a beach area where many visit to swim and escape the heat.

03.  Exercise is better inside

Many people enjoy their morning and afternoon jogs, whether it be around their neighborhood or at a local park.  With sweltering heat conditions, this may become a tough mission to accomplish.  People with asthma, the elderly, and youth are more susceptible to health problems caused by ozone layer spikes brought on by excessive heat conditions.  With this in mind, exercising inside a facility or your home is one way to beat the heat.

04. Don’t just blow hot air

People all around the world depend on cars as their main mode of transportation throughout the year, but air conditioning is especially important in summer months.  After walking from your destination to your car in ninety-eight degree weather, it is obvious that hot air inside your car will not do the trick.  Be certain to receive annual and monthly inspections for your car, so that when you need it the most your car won’t just be blowing hot air.

05. We all scream for ice cream

Ice cream is perhaps one of the most beloved food choices throughout the world.   However, in many neighborhoods the ice cream man isn’t always around to help you beat the heat with a cold, strawberry snow cone.  On a hot summer day, a vanilla ice cream cone in your fridge will be sure to help you beat the heat.

 

06.  Gaming Indoors

During summer months, children line the streets playing games, trying to find a way not to declare boredom inside.  Children taking part in a friendly baseball, kickball, or basketball game on the street is not a negative thing.  However, when temperatures are scorching, a game indoors can be just the trick to beat the heat.  Keep your children’s attention with a puzzle or a video-game.  Parents should remember too much of any one thing could be, in turn, a bad thing.

07.  To save on air, it can’t always be there

During the summer months, electricity bills are at their highest due to the constant need for household insulation.  In every household, air conditioners are sure to be roaring, but what if it were to go out?  To prevent your air conditioner from conking out due to overuse, set your thermostat on seventy to seventy-five degrees.  This method will allow your air conditioner to go on and off automatically upon reaching that temperature.  The last thing you would want is to go click and not get a response with your household thermostat reading ninety degrees Fahrenheit. 

08. Keep it light and airy

When it’s hot outside, it’s pretty safe to assume that people will alter their wardrobes from cold months like winter.  Shorts, tank tops, short-sleeves, and skirts will be seen in greater numbers the hotter it becomes.  This is exactly what should be present during hot summer months.  Lighter colors also keep you cooler during hot months.  Keeping your wardrobe light and airy will definitely help you beat the heat.

 

 

09.  Bottled water is always a must

If you must walk a great distance from or to a destination, keeping water handy is key.  Students on college campuses are encouraged to keep bottled water with them as they travel great distances on foot to and from class.   The main reason people succumb to high temperatures is because they are dehydrated.  Just as athletes must replenish their internal water supply, you must do the same to beat the heat.

10. Water parks are a fun splash

If you can’t make it to a beach, there at many water parks all around Alabama.  Decatur, AL is home to Point Mallard Water Park, where kids and adults alike can experience the rocky wave pool or the massive water slide.  Whether you visit a small or large water park near your home, it is a practical way to temporarily beat the summer heat.

 

The summer months can either be a fun, enjoyable experience or a nagging hot one depending on how you handle the extreme temperatures.  Hopefully, following some of the tips listed above will help you beat the summer heat and have fun doing so.

---