With summer fully upon us and the weather getting increasingly hotter, you might be looking for ways to stay cool at work. Being too hot at work can lead to lower levels of productivity and can make the day almost unbearable. If you don’t have office air-conditioning, it can seem impossible to keep cool at work, but there are actually a few things you can do. Our blog gives you some top tips on how to stay cool at work and some things you can do to help keep the heat out this summer.
Close the Windows
This might seem like a really strange thing to do when the weather is boiling hot outside, but it can actually make the office cooler. That’s because if there is no breeze coming in through the window then you are simply letting in hot air. Also, if you have fans or any kind of air conditioning system, then the cold air they are blowing will simply go out of the window. Although it will be warm indoors, by closing the windows you will not be letting any of the hot air in and you may be able to regulate your office temperature.
Keep Hydrated
This is an obvious one but a lot of people forget to stay hydrated at their desk when they are busy and have lots of tasks to complete. Making sure that you have a cold beverage to sip at your desk can help to keep yourself cool in the office and regulate your body temperature. Drinking tea and coffee throughout the day will not help either as the hot drink can increase your body temperature and make you overheat. If you need to get your caffeine fix then why not try an iced coffee or bottled Frappuccino instead to keep you cool throughout the day.
Wear Appropriate Clothes
Another thing that you should do where possible is wearing appropriate clothes that will keep you cooler throughout the day. If your office doesn’t have a strict dress code then you might be able to get away with wearing shorts or a dress to work. If there is a stricter dress code then try and stick to lighter materials that will keep you cooler during the summer months; cotton clothing is the best as it absorbs perspiration, and light colours will reflect the sun and heat so avoid dark colours where possible.
Cold Water
There are a number of ways that you can keep cool at work using cold or frozen water to cool you down. One easy way to stay cool is to run cold water over your wrists for a couple of minutes. This will cool down the blood running through your main veins and around your body. You can also freeze water in a bottle to use as an ice block and keep yourself cool in the morning, although it may melt quickly. If you’re feeling really hot then you could dip your feet in a bowl of cold or ice water to lower your body temperature, although this isn’t the most practical solution.
If all else fails then you might have to dig deep and invest in a desk fan or AC unit for yourself. Another important element of keeping cool in the office is making sure that you have the right kind of desk chair. The ideal desk chair is an ergonomic chair with breathable fabric on the backrest. This allows heat to pass through the chair instead of getting hot on your back.
