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We might be a couple of months away from the official start of summer but as we have been graced with some impromptu sunshine let’s take a look at how you can stay cool during those weeks and weeks of glorious sun we have to look forward to (wishful thinking I know).
Dress for the Weather
You’re facing an up-hill battle if you’re wearing clothing that isn’t appropriate for the climate. There are several factors to take into consideration when deciding what to wear for a warm day.
- Materials – Cotton and linen are your friends on a hot day as they are light and breathable and can be found in shirts, suits and blouses amongst others.
- Colours – You’ve more than likely heard this one before. Stay clear from dark colours like black and dark grey as they will absorb the heat and keep you hotter for longer. Aim for light colours such as white, cream and light grey.
- Sweat – It’s hot out, you’re stuck in a stuffy office, chances are you’re going to sweat which can only lead to one thing… Sweat patches. Prepare for this by wearing a light airy under shirt. You can also maximise your antiperspirants effectiveness by putting it on the night before where it will have more time to settle and block the sweat ducts keeping you sweat free for longer.
- Loose Fit – The baggier the clothing the better. The middle of summer is not the time for a slim fitting shirt, go with a regular fit that will keep you cooler throughout the day.
Keep Hydrated
This one will be obvious and should apply all year round not just at the first sign of hot weather, but it is important to make sure you are drinking a lot of water not only is it healthy for you, but it will help cool you down. It is easy to forget to drink enough water when you are engrossed in the mountain of work you have in front of you but taking the time to take a swig is worth it.
A good suggestion is to freeze a bottle of water over night, that way you will have a supply of ice cold water for a good part of your day.
Make Good Use of your Time
The last thing you need when it’s warm outside is to be rushing around trying to make it to work on time. Get up that bit earlier and treat yourself a more relaxed commute and feel the benefits of not arriving to work all sweaty and flustered.
When leaving work, it is easy to get stressed out as the world and its mother make their way home try and take yourself out of the situation. Put on some of your favourite music, if you drive throw on the air conditioning and do your best to enjoy the journey.
Window and Fans
Fans can be a godsend on hot days having your own fan at your desk is ideal, if not having a few dotted around the office can still help circulate the cool air.
You need to be more strategic with windows. It is easy to think that opening a window will just let in a nice breeze, however on a lot of occasions all that is happening is the warm air from outside is being let into the office. The best tip if safe enough to do so is to leave windows open in the late afternoon/evening allowing the cooler air to come in and then keeping the windows closed throughout the warm periods during the day.
Cut it Out
Although painful to read, your morning coffee and the 6 subsequent coffees after that all contribute to your bodies rise in temperature. Caffeine is a stimulant which increases your heart rate and blood pressure along with this comes a natural increase in temperature, exactly what you don’t want in the middle of a heat wave.
Keep your portion sizes under control. The larger the meal the more heat produced. It is better to eat little and often in warm temperatures. Some of the best foods to eat in such weather are spicy foods such as curry and chilli dishes as they contain capsaicin which stimulates the production of sweat.
Cool Wrists
A simple tip is to run your wrists under cold water for 5 seconds or so every couple of hours. Central veins run through your wrists and running them under cold water will help to cool down the temperature of your blood.
Switch it Off
Electronics give off a decent amount of heat especially when a lot of them are combined in an enclosed space. Whilst integral to most modern office jobs switching off any electronic equipment that isn’t in use will help to lower the temperature of the office.
Hopefully these things to think about can help keep you cool in the days, weeks and months to come. Ok months might be optimistic, but we can dream!
By Andrew Mairs – Marketing Executive
If you would like any further information on how Officeinsight can help with you cool your new office or to discuss your requirements, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us on 0161 233 0030.
