My Top Ten Ways to Beat the Summer Heat

"Summertime and the living is easy", so said the Gershwins. Well, living is not always that easy. Sometimes the weather becomes too hot to bear, sapping our energy and making us want to move somewhere cooler. I know, we all say during the cold, cold winter that we will never complain when it gets hot, but we always do. We never seem to get used to it even though we know there will be a day or two in which the weather is hot and muggy. It is especially harder when those hot, muggy days seems to last for a week or longer.

But, have no fear, there are ways to beat the heat. My top ten ways to beat the summer heat are listed below, if you have any to add please let us know in the comments at the bottom of the hub.

The best way to keep cool during the summer is to enjoy some ice cream, or frozen yoghurt or a smoothie. My favorite flavor of ice cream is vanilla, although I do also like Ben and Gerry's Chunky Monkey. I love to have a bowl of ice cream or frozen yoghurt with fresh berries on top.

It is important during very hot weather that you drink a lot of water. I find that lukewarm water is a lot better than ice cold water and that I can drink a lot more. Your system seems to handle it better.

If possible, you should stay indoors between 1:00 and 4:00 PM, that is when the sun is at it's hottest. When you are indoors, close your drapes if you have direct sun and turn on the air conditioner, a ceiling or a floor fan.

Nothing cools you off faster than taking a lukewarm shower. Just letting the water pour over your body is pleasant in itself. You will stay cool for a couple of hours after.

If you don't have air conditioning, visit a place that does such as the local mall or the local movie theatre. A couple of hours in that atmosphere will cool you off nicely.

Find a pool and go swimming. There are public pools if you don't have one. Or you can buy an inflatable pool for your backyard, one big enough for adults and kids. If you live in an apartment without a pool you can buy a kiddie pool and stick your feet in it to cool off.

Keep all the windows in your house open, that will create a nice cross draft that will help to cool you off.

Light colored clothing helps to repel the heat, unlike dark clothing which seem to absorb it all. Natural fibers such as cotton are best. You can also buy clothing that gives you sun screen protection.

Sunscreen is a necessity if you are going to be out in the sun for any period of time. You might also consider wearing a hat and sitting under a lawn umbrella.

Fresh fruits will always cool you off. Summertime is a time when most berries are still in season, peaches are in wide supply and oranges are good any time of year. As I mentioned, I like to add fresh berries to my ice cream. But berries can be made into pies, added to cakes and made to create incredible desserts.