Tips for Surviving the Heat

   When I first went to college, I met a boy from upstate New York, who taught me that even though it didn't feel that cold outside (I was wearing a sweatshirt and shorts), it was still possible to get hypothermia! Coming from Texas, I knew virtually nothing about the cold.  When you've never experienced any extreme weather (extreme rain, extreme humidity, extreme heat, extreme cold, etc), it can really catch you off-guard.  Since 21 years in Texas makes me a bit of an expert on dry heat (or really, any heat), here are a few tips for dealing with it:

1. Don't fight it!  Acknowledge that it's hot.  Don't wear dark colors, long sleeves or pants, or heavy fabrics.  Light colors and light fabrics are your friends.
2. Give your body room to breathe!  Wear clothes that don't cling to you.  Ladies, try skirts and dresses - not only do they not stick to you, they also let you feel a bit of a breeze.
3. Hydration is key.  The typical, healthy person cannot over-hydrate (unless you have certain health problems or take certain drugs).  Drink a lot of liquids, preferably water, and drink them chilled.  Try freezing a water bottle to keep it colder for longer (note: ice takes up more volume than water, so don't fill your water bottle up all the way.  It might burst!).
4. Whenever possible, if you must be outside, be in the water.  The best way of cooling your body down is to dunk yourself in cool water.  Austin has a 3-acre, spring-fed pool which is a chilly 68 degrees all year round, and it it packed in the summer!  (shown at the top of the page)
5. On a related note, don't be afraid to shower often.  You will sweat, and you will feel gross and sticky.  Just pull your hair up in a ponytail and rinse off.  You'll feel so refreshed - definitely work the 3 minutes it takes!
6. If you must go outside and not sit in the water, try to do so after dark or early(ish) in the morning.  Here in Austin, at this point in the summer, the heat is not too bad until about 11 AM.

Thankfully, the heat doesn't last forever!  Eventually, it will get cooler again (even if Texans have to wait until October).  When I use these tricks, the summer doesn't seem so bad after all.