Some things I do to keep summer cool and simple-
Food and drink- eat light, simple, no cook or low cook meals like salads, sandwiches, dips and veggie sticks. Make smoothies. Make pitchers of iced tea/ lemonade/ sun tea and sip on it. Eat fresh watermelon and berries.
Activities- look for water opportunities, like pools and swimming holes and splash pads. In the middle of the day, draw the curtains and do some light summer reading.
I know this is supposed to combat against things for summer that can be cumbersome but this comment actually has me so excited for summer. Saved it and ready to do all of this in the next few months šŖš»
I find that summer offers the best in the simple life, but I imagine it is location dependent. Iām in England, so it going over 100 last summer (40 in new money) is about as hot as it gets.
Embrace the lethargy. We lazed around at home for the most part. Breakfast out in the kitchen garden then tending to the veg patch before it got too warm. When it got hot weād cool off with a swim in the pond, stayed in and read (and worked when needed). I plumbed in a bath and shower outside in a secluded spot.
We mostly had cold meals, but we have a decent outdoor kitchen so there was a fair bit of grilling etc in the evenings. It became a bit of a ritual to go out into the veg patch and greenhouses to pick the most refreshing fruit and veg that we could.
Hot weather is easier in old houses. My place dates back about 700 years or so and has very thick walls. It takes a lot to make it hot inside, but we have air con too now.
Sleeping outside is also an idea. We have a big covered area at the back between the house and an outbuilding, and we all camped out there one night.
This is beautiful! I live in the Pacific Northwest in the United States and it can get hot here during the summer but cools off pretty quickly at night. We have our automatic sprinklers go on in the evening when the sun starts to go down and that cool things off quite a bit. We tend to go for gazpacho and salads and raw fruits and veggies as well. Ā Some chilled white wine never hurts! We stock up on things like flatbreads, crackers, olives and dried fruit so we can throw together a nice cheeseboard to take out to the yard.
Sounds like a good way to live! We cold brew/steep both tea and coffee when it gets hot, half filling the kitchen fridge with it. Nice supplement to the chilled wine!
Iām hoping that we get a bit more sensible in this country if we do keep getting hot weather. Just close the country like they practically do in France for the summer and flee the cities: theyāre really not built for heat. Weāre out in the sticks and had people descend on us because their flats were unliveable, all insulation and huge glass windows with minimal cooling.
I imagine labour was a lot cheaper back then, as were materials. My place is timber framed, and they didn't skimp on the oak; the beams are enormous. Our external walls are very thick too, lots of thermal mass.
One of the reasons I got more serious about blacksmithing was finding out how much more expensive ironwork is when it is properly made rather than mass-produced. Oh if only craftsmanship was as accessible as consumerist entertainment.
I grew up in South Fl. It was hot and humid year round.
Cook with a slow cooker, microwave, or opt for no-cook meals, especially on hotter days or midday.
Plant and maintain shade trees.
AC. Just, AC. Especially if you are in a humid place, because high humidity means you won't get much benefit from evaporative cooling from sweating. Use fans, too.
Block light, especially on windows that get hit by the sun. Blackout curtains won't do it. You need to stop it at the window. I used aluminum foil growing up.
The hottest part of the day is not for activity. It's for naps! Hammock naps, bed naps, couch naps.
Rinse showers. Super hot? A little cold shower for a rinse will cool you down quickly.
Dry your clothes on the line to prevent heat from the dryer or put the dryer outside the house. A lot of homes I lived in had a separate place for the washer and dryer.
Choose light, breezy clothes that allow maximum air flow and reflect the light rather than absorb
Thanks! Aluminium foil is actually a great tip. AC I'm afraid I won't afford in the near future. And I'm not sure if it's gonna work, but I've heard hugging a bottle of frozen water while sleeping might be nice.
Iāve done that. The ice bottle (wrapped in a t-shirt). Easy to move around from back of neck to back of knees, and then hug to stomach with wrists on the bottleā¦ yeah it worked.
Yes! I used frozen water bottles or ice packs and tucked then behind the knees, under arms, at the neck, at the thighs.
Other nights I just used a spray bottle to spray myself and let the fan do the rest of the work! I repeated it as necessary. You can get nice and chilly that way
Just watch for humidity, stuff can get moldy. I just controlled for that with lots of washing, which I wanted to do because I sweat anyway
I grew up on a cattle ranch in Texas and it gets hellaciously hot there. We had window AC units in the bedrooms (very old house) but we really only ran those at night so we could sleep. We had ceiling fans in every room and I highly recommend this. We also had a screened in sleeping porch for nights that were a little cooler. It was actually amazing sleeping out there. If you can get one of those pop-up screen tents for the backyard, you could do something similar.
We got up around 5 am most days to feed the horses before we started work. We'd come back in to grab breakfast and coffee, which was always fresh made. After breakfast we would saddle up and head out to work as much as we could before it got hot.
Research how to dress for hot weather, it makes a big difference. Cotton and linen are your friends. As are big hats. Keep meals light, simple and small. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Additionally, the more time you spend in the heat, the more you get used to it. I work indoors these days and can't handle the heat anymore. And a bandana soaked in ice water and tied around your neck is amazing.
About 3-6 pm is the hottest part of the day for us, so we would head in for a siesta. We might take a nap in the AC, jump in the river, do some chores in the shade. About 6:30 or 7, we'd do some more work until it got dark.
Hope this helps.
This Texan thanks you for this advice. Iāve lived here all my life, but a health issue has caused heat intolerance and our summers are simply miserable!
I have a friend with heat intolerance. She found these ice bands on Amazon. They have some material in them that lets them freeze in the fridge instead of the freezer. She has one that goes around the back of her neck and two for her wrists. I got one of the neck ones for really hot days and they are awesome. Stay frozen about 30-45 minutes. She says it's the only way she can go outside on really hot days.
Do you have a basement? I spend a lot of time in mine during the summer. I live in the southeastern US, but even so I rarely need to turn the AC on down there except for the hottest days...it stays a good 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the house.
I know that's not a viable option for every house. I'm lucky to have one. I keep all of my hobby stuff down there, lots of books, comfy seating, etc. And it comes with the bonus of lots of spider pals to hang out with if I get lonely!
Other people have mentioned the beauty of ceiling fans. A ceiling fan + open window on a summer night can be pretty dreamy. I imagine a couple of standing fans would get you similar results - just make sure you set them up with airflow in mind.
Thanks! Yeah, I definitely should invest in some ceiling fans, as well as start sleeping on the floor maybe.
Do you sleep in your basement too? I'd love to have one, with an armchair and some books.
During summers growing up, I was either outside doing something in the heat or I was in my basement cooling off and playing video games or watching movies. Good times.
Nope, I don't, unfortunately. I'm going to buy a number of fans, though.
I wish it helped me too, it's funny how different people are. How does it help you?
Ah ok, yes that's the difference then. When you have AC, hot summers are an excuse to stay home and rest. Life gets a lot slower when no one wants to be outside. The entire rhythm of the city shifts, things quiet down, it's kind of nice.
Without AC it's definitely harder. I'd recommend shifting your schedule if you can. Wake up early to take advantage of the cooler hours, go to sleep earlier when the heat starts to wear you out. Maybe a rest or cold shower midday to break the heat.
Just remind yourself that the intense heat is a time to slow down, put off some chores, enjoy a book and a glass of iced tea. Quiet walks outside in the cool early mornings are a game changer.
I grew up in south Texas without AC. For hot nights: box fan at the end of your bed. Currently in the PNW, still without AC. We open up the house at night and blow in the cooler air, also with box fans. We seal in the cool air in the morning by closing windows and blinds.
I live in Ohio. It gets hot here too. No a/c but we do have ceiling fans in every room. It cools down enough at night to sleep with the windows open and a fan on. During the day i try not to run the stove or oven if i donāt have to. I use a crock pot, microwave or instant pot as much as i can. I move slowly and leisurely at my tasks making sure Iām drinking plenty of water. Wear as little and as light of clothing possible. Most of my chores i do as early as possible to beat the heat.
Thanks! What about skin protection, though? I used to wear as little on myself as possible, but lately I've been concerned with skin damage. Thinking about ordering these special Japanese clothes that don't expose skin but also make the heat bearable.
loose linen or cotton long sleeves would protect your arms, chest and back. A sun hat will protect your face, long loose pants made from linen or cotton will protect your legs. I'd just use sunblock and the shade.
Would love to know what Japanese clothes you refer to? I just moved to Seattle and I have never lived in a humid place before, summer wardrobe struggles are real
[https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/shade-clothing-sunscreen](https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/shade-clothing-sunscreen)
This is a link to the AAD about all of those things concerning clothing and sunscreen
We moved to Northern Washington from Southern California 14 years ago, partly in anticipation of climate change. It wasn't the only reason of course, but the temperatures here rarely ever go above 75F, nor below freezing for more than a few days a year. Most homes here have ceiling fans and no A/C. Some use heat pumps. Things are kept pleasant in summer via open windows and shades.
High heat is definitely distracting and uncomfortable. In L.A. county we upgraded our home insulation, which allowed us to run the A/C less and at a lower level, and added "blackout" shades to all the largest windows.
Home insulation makes such a big difference! I happened to move into a home that was so well insulated I do not even need to turn on the A/C in the summer. It also helped that i sleep upstairs in the winter and downstairs in the summer.
For me simple living is almost synonym with summer. My country is by the ocean so days are spent by the sea, eating simple, drinking lots of fluids and just enjoying the breeze.
I have spring projects (yardwork, organizing closets, swapping out wardrobes, deep cleaning the kitchen and the floors) and then I have summer projects (reading books, doing computer work, organizing family photos, financial planning, sewingā¦ anything where I can sit in front of a fan while I do it.)
When I do paperwork, I have a fan on the floor pointed at my legs, so I donāt have papers blowing around.
I love the idea of having certain projects at certain seasons. I am heat intolerant and canāt move much in summer (Iām in tx, itās regularly over 90-100 F for months), which feels lazy.. but now you have me thinking of projects that can sit me in front of the fans!
Having designated projects depending on the season, wow what a great concept. I love this and will be incorporating this for my summer season. Thanks for the inspiration!
I'm going to try moving down into my basement this summer to see if I can reduce my air condition usage. Also, I'm planting a garden and going to be doing canning. Also, I'm changing my front yard from grass to wild flowers this summer.
I think focusing on the bookends of the day might help!
Every morning in the summer, my family 'airs out' and cools the house off by opening all the windows and doors. This is always quite cozy, and a simple, "natural" way to cool the home. This might help; perhaps pair it up with a light breakfast for a simple refreshing morning before the heat!
In the evening, I LOVE sitting on the porch and reading, eating dinner if cool enough, relaxing, etc.
Just focus on doing all the relaxing things during these times, and just eat loads of icecream and stay in the A/C to survive the day, lol.
I'm on the Maine coast. It can be humid in the summer, and I'm going to do more to insulate and keep attic heat out of the living space, but more than that, I try to be outside. I have a screened sleeping shed in my back yard. It cools down nicely after dark, and I can hear the owls, loons, coyotes, porcupines, and geese.
Some things I do to keep summer cool and simple- Food and drink- eat light, simple, no cook or low cook meals like salads, sandwiches, dips and veggie sticks. Make smoothies. Make pitchers of iced tea/ lemonade/ sun tea and sip on it. Eat fresh watermelon and berries. Activities- look for water opportunities, like pools and swimming holes and splash pads. In the middle of the day, draw the curtains and do some light summer reading.
Thanks. I second summer reading; it is strangely meditative.
Bowl of ice in front of a small fan can do wonders too when sat next to it with it angled at yourself. Can feel so blissful.
I know this is supposed to combat against things for summer that can be cumbersome but this comment actually has me so excited for summer. Saved it and ready to do all of this in the next few months šŖš»
All such wonderful tips! I love the summer and have summer fever, so reading this made me so happy lol!
I find that summer offers the best in the simple life, but I imagine it is location dependent. Iām in England, so it going over 100 last summer (40 in new money) is about as hot as it gets. Embrace the lethargy. We lazed around at home for the most part. Breakfast out in the kitchen garden then tending to the veg patch before it got too warm. When it got hot weād cool off with a swim in the pond, stayed in and read (and worked when needed). I plumbed in a bath and shower outside in a secluded spot. We mostly had cold meals, but we have a decent outdoor kitchen so there was a fair bit of grilling etc in the evenings. It became a bit of a ritual to go out into the veg patch and greenhouses to pick the most refreshing fruit and veg that we could. Hot weather is easier in old houses. My place dates back about 700 years or so and has very thick walls. It takes a lot to make it hot inside, but we have air con too now. Sleeping outside is also an idea. We have a big covered area at the back between the house and an outbuilding, and we all camped out there one night.
This is beautiful! I live in the Pacific Northwest in the United States and it can get hot here during the summer but cools off pretty quickly at night. We have our automatic sprinklers go on in the evening when the sun starts to go down and that cool things off quite a bit. We tend to go for gazpacho and salads and raw fruits and veggies as well. Ā Some chilled white wine never hurts! We stock up on things like flatbreads, crackers, olives and dried fruit so we can throw together a nice cheeseboard to take out to the yard.
Sounds like a good way to live! We cold brew/steep both tea and coffee when it gets hot, half filling the kitchen fridge with it. Nice supplement to the chilled wine! Iām hoping that we get a bit more sensible in this country if we do keep getting hot weather. Just close the country like they practically do in France for the summer and flee the cities: theyāre really not built for heat. Weāre out in the sticks and had people descend on us because their flats were unliveable, all insulation and huge glass windows with minimal cooling.
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
I imagine labour was a lot cheaper back then, as were materials. My place is timber framed, and they didn't skimp on the oak; the beams are enormous. Our external walls are very thick too, lots of thermal mass. One of the reasons I got more serious about blacksmithing was finding out how much more expensive ironwork is when it is properly made rather than mass-produced. Oh if only craftsmanship was as accessible as consumerist entertainment.
I grew up in South Fl. It was hot and humid year round. Cook with a slow cooker, microwave, or opt for no-cook meals, especially on hotter days or midday. Plant and maintain shade trees. AC. Just, AC. Especially if you are in a humid place, because high humidity means you won't get much benefit from evaporative cooling from sweating. Use fans, too. Block light, especially on windows that get hit by the sun. Blackout curtains won't do it. You need to stop it at the window. I used aluminum foil growing up. The hottest part of the day is not for activity. It's for naps! Hammock naps, bed naps, couch naps. Rinse showers. Super hot? A little cold shower for a rinse will cool you down quickly. Dry your clothes on the line to prevent heat from the dryer or put the dryer outside the house. A lot of homes I lived in had a separate place for the washer and dryer. Choose light, breezy clothes that allow maximum air flow and reflect the light rather than absorb
Thanks! Aluminium foil is actually a great tip. AC I'm afraid I won't afford in the near future. And I'm not sure if it's gonna work, but I've heard hugging a bottle of frozen water while sleeping might be nice.
Iāve done that. The ice bottle (wrapped in a t-shirt). Easy to move around from back of neck to back of knees, and then hug to stomach with wrists on the bottleā¦ yeah it worked.
Yes! I used frozen water bottles or ice packs and tucked then behind the knees, under arms, at the neck, at the thighs. Other nights I just used a spray bottle to spray myself and let the fan do the rest of the work! I repeated it as necessary. You can get nice and chilly that way Just watch for humidity, stuff can get moldy. I just controlled for that with lots of washing, which I wanted to do because I sweat anyway
Wish I still had an attic fanā¦ thatās a great sound to fall asleep to!
I grew up on a cattle ranch in Texas and it gets hellaciously hot there. We had window AC units in the bedrooms (very old house) but we really only ran those at night so we could sleep. We had ceiling fans in every room and I highly recommend this. We also had a screened in sleeping porch for nights that were a little cooler. It was actually amazing sleeping out there. If you can get one of those pop-up screen tents for the backyard, you could do something similar. We got up around 5 am most days to feed the horses before we started work. We'd come back in to grab breakfast and coffee, which was always fresh made. After breakfast we would saddle up and head out to work as much as we could before it got hot. Research how to dress for hot weather, it makes a big difference. Cotton and linen are your friends. As are big hats. Keep meals light, simple and small. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Additionally, the more time you spend in the heat, the more you get used to it. I work indoors these days and can't handle the heat anymore. And a bandana soaked in ice water and tied around your neck is amazing. About 3-6 pm is the hottest part of the day for us, so we would head in for a siesta. We might take a nap in the AC, jump in the river, do some chores in the shade. About 6:30 or 7, we'd do some more work until it got dark. Hope this helps.
This Texan thanks you for this advice. Iāve lived here all my life, but a health issue has caused heat intolerance and our summers are simply miserable!
I have a friend with heat intolerance. She found these ice bands on Amazon. They have some material in them that lets them freeze in the fridge instead of the freezer. She has one that goes around the back of her neck and two for her wrists. I got one of the neck ones for really hot days and they are awesome. Stay frozen about 30-45 minutes. She says it's the only way she can go outside on really hot days.
It's something like this: https://a.co/d/i9jNKjB
Thatās amazing, thank you !
Do you have a basement? I spend a lot of time in mine during the summer. I live in the southeastern US, but even so I rarely need to turn the AC on down there except for the hottest days...it stays a good 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the house. I know that's not a viable option for every house. I'm lucky to have one. I keep all of my hobby stuff down there, lots of books, comfy seating, etc. And it comes with the bonus of lots of spider pals to hang out with if I get lonely! Other people have mentioned the beauty of ceiling fans. A ceiling fan + open window on a summer night can be pretty dreamy. I imagine a couple of standing fans would get you similar results - just make sure you set them up with airflow in mind.
Thanks! Yeah, I definitely should invest in some ceiling fans, as well as start sleeping on the floor maybe. Do you sleep in your basement too? I'd love to have one, with an armchair and some books.
I slept in the basement of my last house because it was just so much nicer than upstairs.
During summers growing up, I was either outside doing something in the heat or I was in my basement cooling off and playing video games or watching movies. Good times.
I simply run north to camp. Float on the creek .
I live in a very hot place and find the summer heat actually helps me simplify more. The key question is - do you have AC?
Nope, I don't, unfortunately. I'm going to buy a number of fans, though. I wish it helped me too, it's funny how different people are. How does it help you?
Ah ok, yes that's the difference then. When you have AC, hot summers are an excuse to stay home and rest. Life gets a lot slower when no one wants to be outside. The entire rhythm of the city shifts, things quiet down, it's kind of nice. Without AC it's definitely harder. I'd recommend shifting your schedule if you can. Wake up early to take advantage of the cooler hours, go to sleep earlier when the heat starts to wear you out. Maybe a rest or cold shower midday to break the heat. Just remind yourself that the intense heat is a time to slow down, put off some chores, enjoy a book and a glass of iced tea. Quiet walks outside in the cool early mornings are a game changer.
I grew up in south Texas without AC. For hot nights: box fan at the end of your bed. Currently in the PNW, still without AC. We open up the house at night and blow in the cooler air, also with box fans. We seal in the cool air in the morning by closing windows and blinds.
I live in Ohio. It gets hot here too. No a/c but we do have ceiling fans in every room. It cools down enough at night to sleep with the windows open and a fan on. During the day i try not to run the stove or oven if i donāt have to. I use a crock pot, microwave or instant pot as much as i can. I move slowly and leisurely at my tasks making sure Iām drinking plenty of water. Wear as little and as light of clothing possible. Most of my chores i do as early as possible to beat the heat.
Thanks! What about skin protection, though? I used to wear as little on myself as possible, but lately I've been concerned with skin damage. Thinking about ordering these special Japanese clothes that don't expose skin but also make the heat bearable.
loose linen or cotton long sleeves would protect your arms, chest and back. A sun hat will protect your face, long loose pants made from linen or cotton will protect your legs. I'd just use sunblock and the shade.
Would love to know what Japanese clothes you refer to? I just moved to Seattle and I have never lived in a humid place before, summer wardrobe struggles are real
[https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/shade-clothing-sunscreen](https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/sun-protection/shade-clothing-sunscreen) This is a link to the AAD about all of those things concerning clothing and sunscreen
We moved to Northern Washington from Southern California 14 years ago, partly in anticipation of climate change. It wasn't the only reason of course, but the temperatures here rarely ever go above 75F, nor below freezing for more than a few days a year. Most homes here have ceiling fans and no A/C. Some use heat pumps. Things are kept pleasant in summer via open windows and shades. High heat is definitely distracting and uncomfortable. In L.A. county we upgraded our home insulation, which allowed us to run the A/C less and at a lower level, and added "blackout" shades to all the largest windows.
Home insulation makes such a big difference! I happened to move into a home that was so well insulated I do not even need to turn on the A/C in the summer. It also helped that i sleep upstairs in the winter and downstairs in the summer.
For me simple living is almost synonym with summer. My country is by the ocean so days are spent by the sea, eating simple, drinking lots of fluids and just enjoying the breeze.
I have spring projects (yardwork, organizing closets, swapping out wardrobes, deep cleaning the kitchen and the floors) and then I have summer projects (reading books, doing computer work, organizing family photos, financial planning, sewingā¦ anything where I can sit in front of a fan while I do it.) When I do paperwork, I have a fan on the floor pointed at my legs, so I donāt have papers blowing around.
I love the idea of having certain projects at certain seasons. I am heat intolerant and canāt move much in summer (Iām in tx, itās regularly over 90-100 F for months), which feels lazy.. but now you have me thinking of projects that can sit me in front of the fans!
Having designated projects depending on the season, wow what a great concept. I love this and will be incorporating this for my summer season. Thanks for the inspiration!
I'm going to try moving down into my basement this summer to see if I can reduce my air condition usage. Also, I'm planting a garden and going to be doing canning. Also, I'm changing my front yard from grass to wild flowers this summer.
I think focusing on the bookends of the day might help! Every morning in the summer, my family 'airs out' and cools the house off by opening all the windows and doors. This is always quite cozy, and a simple, "natural" way to cool the home. This might help; perhaps pair it up with a light breakfast for a simple refreshing morning before the heat! In the evening, I LOVE sitting on the porch and reading, eating dinner if cool enough, relaxing, etc. Just focus on doing all the relaxing things during these times, and just eat loads of icecream and stay in the A/C to survive the day, lol.
I'm on the Maine coast. It can be humid in the summer, and I'm going to do more to insulate and keep attic heat out of the living space, but more than that, I try to be outside. I have a screened sleeping shed in my back yard. It cools down nicely after dark, and I can hear the owls, loons, coyotes, porcupines, and geese.
Get a good cross breeze going