6 TIPS TO HELP YOU BEAT THE HEAT THIS SUMMER

I don't know about you guys, but I'm starting to get hot, and not in the preferred way! This week was the first week where many days had a high of more than 90 degrees.

As someone who absolutely hates heat, I wanted to share some health tips that can make you feel more comfortable is seemingly unbearable weather conditions this summer. Keep reading for my four tips!

1: PEPPERMINT OIL CAN HELP YOU COOL DOWN

I have a story! So, as you probably know by now, I work at a college. As a part of my job, I cover our graduation ceremonies with my coworkers. This past graduation, I found myself scurrying around from floor to floor in a giant arena looking for a student.

​When graduation was about to begin, I sat down with a fellow coworker and she asked me if I wanted some peppermint oil.

She told me to dab a bit behind both of my ears and on my wrists. As someone who easily overheats, I was shocked that this worked so well. If you also find yourself getting overheated, try some peppermint oil!

2: WEAR SUNSCREEN IF YOU'RE GOING OUT IN THE SUN

I learned this the hard way about a month ago when I went to a local festival that was held outdoors. I thought: "I'm going to be there for a few hours, there are shady spots, and I'll be moving, so I should be OK." Plus, it really wasn't that hot.

Sure enough, I came home with a sunburn that didn't go away for at least a week.

No matter if you "think you'll burn or not," take some extra measures to protect your skin! Not only can this save you from potential medical issues later, you won't have to deal with sunburns!

3: REDUCE CHANCES OF SKIN BURNS IN THE CAR

If any part of your car's interior isn't cloth, you run the risk of potentially burning your skin in a hot car. To reduce the likelihood of this, buckle your seatbelt into the buckle when you leave your car to keep it from getting too hot. 

You can also add a drink koozie over your gear shifter and add on a cloth steering wheel cover!

4: CHILL YOUR SKINCARE

I've actually seen that there are a number of places selling micro fridges for skincare products. Chilling your face masks, moisturizers, and serums can help you beat the heat by instantly cooling you down. This is an excellent idea for people who have a morning workout, do their shower routine, and still find themselves sweating and feeling red and puffy (like me)!

5: MAKE YOUR WATER MORE INTERESTING

In the summer months, it is natural for you to sweat more and to lose more water because of it. Hydration is super important, but it can become really boring pretty fast. 

Jazz up your water with some infused ice cubes. One recipe I wanted to try involves adding strawberry and lemon slices along with lemon 

juice and strawberry flavoring, to an ice cube mold. After the ice is made, you just add it to water to not only keep it cool, but also add natural flavors to the water. This makes drinking water much more appealing, which will keep you hydrated all summer long!

6: CHANGE UP YOUR LIFESTYLE OVER THE SUMMER

Lastly, and speaking on all levels, it's OK to change up your lifestyle this summer. Eat more fresh produce, do low-impact exercises indoors, slow down if you want to. Summers are usually slower for most people. Kids are out of school, camps might take them out of town for a few weeks, and parents and those without children can take some time for themselves. Cash in some of those vaycay days, even if it is just to stay home or go on a day trip. You deserve it!