9 Ways to Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning
I have always imagined the fall as being cool and breezy with autumn leaves fluttering in the air. The reality in Southern California is that the scorching heat seems to be getting worse. Although we live by the ocean, temperature during our hottest months has broken three digits consistently in recent years. It hit 113 degrees yesterday, equaling our hottest day on record. We’re now living with the same temperatures that used to be reserved only for Death Valley.
For those who don’t have air conditioning, fans, or electricity, here are some ways to keep cool in your house:
1) Stay hydrated. Drink iced water. Make it pleasurable and throw in a slice of lemon or orange. Make sure you have a cup with you continuously to sip on.
2) Cooling down your main pressure point. Place some ice cubes in a small face towel. Fold the towel over and wrap the ice cubes inside. Then lightly dampen the towel with lukewarm water.
Place the folded towel against the nape of your neck and let the coolness of the ice slowly come through. This will immediate help your entire body feel cool. (I got this tip years ago from military friends who did maneuvers in icy water. They used heat instead.)
If you need more release. Apply the towel to your wrists and then back of the ankles.
3) Wear loose clothes with all natural fabric such as cotton. My number one preference is cotton. The natural fabric will conduct heat away from your body. The looseness of the clothes will create a breeze when you move.
4) Wear swimwear or swim trunks. It’s hot and you’ll sweat. Dress like you’re at a tropical resort. Put on your bikini and sarong skirt. You’ll feel better and look good.
3) Cool your head. For additional coolness, use the same towel from #1 and place it over your forehead. Wipe it over your face to cool the heat if you’re extremely hot. The evaporating water will add additional feeling of cool.
5) Create a harem atmosphere. Bring things to the bathroom to do. The cold tile and marble in the bathroom usually makes it the coolest place in the house. The bathroom is just a room. There’s no taboo about reading, typing on the computer or whatever else you want to do. Make the tile floor comfortable with some cotton pillows and you’re set.
6) Create your own spa. Remember that people pay money to sweat at a sauna or steam room. Crush some mints on your fingers and sniff it every so often.
Put on soothing music. Lie down, relax and put some cool cucumber slices on your eyes. Make sure to that you have the towel from Step #2 and use the technique every so often. Put the towel in a bowl when you’re not using it.
7) Soothe your third eye. Use a cold slice of cucumber on your forehead between your eyes. This is where Indians believe the third eye is. The instant cold will give you relief.
8) Get a pedicure. Soak your feet in a bucket or large bowl of cold water. How your feet feel will make your brain believe that you’re cooler.
9) Hide from the sun. If you don’t have shutters, put up light colored sheets to shield the inside of your house from the sun rays. This is in addition to your window liners. Don’t use the drapes if they’re dark. They will only absorb more heat and transmit it to the inside of your house.
All these techniques will help you beat the heat without beating the wallet. Remember though to eat light. Only snack on things. Don’t eat full meals. Heavy meals will make your body work harder and generate more heat. When the heat is on, move as little as possible.
Readers, do you have any tips on surviving the heat? Any desert dwellers out there who can guide us?
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One way that I stay cool is by having a condo with two levels. When I get cold, I go upstairs. When I get hot, I go downstairs. Easy.
But all of your tips are great and can definitely be used!