🌞 Top 10 Smart Ways to Beat the Heat This Summer
Summers in India can be unbearably hot. The sun is burning, your skin is sticky, and that cool drink of water lasts about 30 seconds before becoming lukewarm. Whether we’re in Delhi, Mumbai, or Chennai, we all feel the heat when the temperature rises above 40°C.
But what if I told you there are better, cooler ways to battle the heat this summer—without breaking the wallet or relying exclusively on your air conditioner?
This isn’t your typical “drink water and wear cotton” post (though those are still good suggestions). It’s a useful, realistic, and little quirky guide filled with personal stories and actually helpful techniques to stay cool. Grab your cold coffee or Nimbu paani and join us for the top 10 smart ways to fight the heat this summer! 🌤️
1.Cooling Foods
What was the first thing I learned during a trip to Rajasthan in May? What you consume has a significant impact on your body’s internal temperature. Avoid oily samosas and biryanis and instead opt for hydrated, cooling dishes.
Summer superheroes include cucumbers, watermelon, buttermilk (chaas), yogurt, mint, and coconut water. Eating spicy and heavy meals causes you to sweat more, so your body works harder to cool you off.
Amazing Tips:
Start your day with a bowl of curd and fruit. Swap hot parathas for smoothies or cold oats.
2. Cooler Hack
1. Fill a shallow metal dish with ice and place it before a table fan. The fan will blow air over the ice to simulate an air-cooling effect.
2. You can freeze a water bottle, wrap it in a towel, and keep it near your neck or feet while sleeping.
3. Sleeping on the floor
Sleeping on the floor, particularly on a cotton mat or chatai, feels much cooler than on a springy mattress.
4.Lukewarm Showers
This may seem counterintuitive, yet it works. When you take a very cold shower, your body produces heat to compensate. However, a lukewarm shower helps to gradually adjust your body temperature.
5. Curtains and Bedsheets
During the summer, replace your dark curtains, bedsheets, and cushion coverings with light-colored, breathable textiles like white cotton or pastels. They reflect sunlight and improve air circulation.
6. Indoor plants
There’s a reason our forefathers lived in dwellings surrounded by trees. Plants such as aloe vera, peace lily, areca palm, and snake plants serve to filter the air and lower ambient temperatures.
7.Staying hydrated
Yes, drinking water is necessary. However, simple water can become monotonous after a while. The key is to remain hydrated creatively. I enjoy infusing water with lemon, cucumber, or mint leaves. Alternatively, make homemade electrolyte drinks with a bit of salt and sugar.
8.Dress Smart
Sure, cotton is nice, but not all cotton garments are the same. Look for loose, airy fabrics like linen, rayon, and muslin. Avoid wearing tight jeans or synthetic blends; they trap heat and perspiration, making you unhappy.
I’ve started wearing loose kurtas and linen shirts, and my body genuinely feels less suffocated in the heat. Also, light colors—always.
9. Reducing internal heat sources
Heat is generated by appliances such as ovens, laptop computers, and even normal light bulbs. I once prepared a cake in June—and immediately regretted it. My small kitchen had transformed into a furnace.
Switch to LED lights, cook in the mornings or late at night, and unplug any unnecessary equipment. Even a little device like your Wi-Fi router radiates warmth.
10. Outdoor Activities
If you must go out, do it wisely. Avoid going out between 12 and 4 p.m.—the heat is unbearable. Carry an umbrella (even if you think it’s unfashionable), use sunscreen, and keep a water bottle on hand.