How are you coping with the heat this week?
We are all trying to find ways to cool down
I’m a big fan of cold water swimming – but there’s not much cold water around to have a dip
Even my local lake is around 25 degrees
One of the best tips I’ve found is to cool specific places in your body, which then help to cool the rest of you.
Our feet, hands and face have specialised blood vessels that can lose heat rapidly.
When you cool these areas, you cool the blood flowing through them – which then travels around the rest of your body.
So holding your hands and inner wrists under a cold tap can be a great way to cool down
One thing I’ve found that works better is a tiny ice bath, just for your feet.
Just fill a washing-up bowl with cold water, add some ice, and sit with your feet in it for a while.
This is a perfect opportunity to perhaps sit in a shady spot in the garden and enjoy an ice cream or cold drink
I think it also works because when the weather is hot, we can feel hot and flustered
Taking a few minutes to cool our feet means we can’t rush around and do things – we have to sit still
It’s a great opportunity to watch some wildlife in the garden
Or perhaps get a friend or loved one their own mini ice bath for their feet, and you can enjoy a nice debrief at the end of the day!
Whatever you’re doing, I hope you’re managing to stay cool
If you try cooling your feet, let me know how you get on!
And if you have any other foolproof ways of staying cool in the heat, I definitely want to hear about them!
Also check in on elderly neighbours and relatives to make sure they are staying as cool as possible and well hydrated