25 Ways To Beat The Heat Besides Drinking Something Cool Slideshow

Avoid Peak Heat Hours

The middle of the afternoon is usually the prime time for heat. Try to schedule any outdoor excursion during a period of coolness, which is usually the early morning or evening. 

Close the Curtains

Reducing sunlight will prevent your house from becoming a human hot box. 

Cold Showers

A refreshingly cool shower reduces your body temperature and washes off that layer of salty sweat.

Cool Soups and Salads

Instead of having a steaming entrée for dinner, try to drop your body's temperature with some leafy greens, a chilled soup, or a cold quinoa salad.

Eat Spicy Foods

Turning up the heat in your mouth can actually cool you down. Spice triggers heat receptors that increase blood circulation and sweating, which reduces your body's core temperature.

Freeze Your Sheets

A nice, frozen sheet will give you temporary relief from the heat. Just fold and put it in a plastic bag to keep the funky freezer smells off your sheets

Get Comfortable, Not Naked

Loose-fitting clothing sops up some of the sweat that would otherwise cling to your naked body.

Go to a Museum, Library, or Coffee Shop

They've got the books, the entertainment, the coffee, and the best air-conditioning.

Ice Your Arteries

Place ice packs on your wrists, neck, and temples. 

Keep your Feet Cold

There are multiple pulse sources in your feet, so submerging them in cold water cools down the entire body.  

Make Some Fan Adjustments

Point box fans out and put ceiling fans on reverse. This syphons the hot air out a room, while spinning ceiling fan blades counter clockwise pushes the cool air down. 

Makeshift Air-Conditioning

If you don't have the real thing, hang a damp sheet by a window so any cool air that blows in will naturally reduce the heat.

Purchase a Chillow

This device slips into your pillow and regulates the temperature. A study found that Chillow users fell asleep 68 percent faster than those using a conventional pillow. 

Rest During the Day

No, you're not just getting old. The heat will tire you out more quickly, and it's important not to fight it. A short rest can do wonders. 

Sleep Alone

 It's easy to follow this recommendation if you're single; sleeping in the same bed as another person adds a lot of body heat.

Sleep Like a Mummy

Also known as the "Egyptian Method," this technique involves dampening a sheet or towel in cool water and using it as a blanket. 

Sleep on Bamboo

It's definitely not luxury, but a bamboo mat absorbs less heat than a traditional cotton mattress. 

Stay Low

We all know hot air rises, so the best way to escape it is to sleep low to the floor. Sleep in a basement, if possible. 

Temporarily Ditch Caffeine and Alcohol

These staple beverages are no good for the summer heat because they accelerate dehydration. As always, you're better off with water. 

Try to Eat Many Small Meals Instead of a Few Big Ones

Larger meals require more metabolic energy for the body to digest, which creates an internal heatwave for your body. 

Turn Off the Stove/Oven

For the time being, try to keep your cooking contained to sauté pans, salads, and no-cook meals

Use an Umbrella

It's not just for rain! Who wouldn't want a constant source of shade when you're outdoors on a stifling day? 

Spray It, Don’t Say It

Keep a little spray bottle in the fridge. Use it to cool yourself down instead of for disciplining your dog. 

Use Cotton Sheets

Cotton keeps you cooler than other fabrics.

Wear Light Colors

Light-colored clothing doesn't retain heat as well as darker shades. Avoid that black T-shirt during summer heat waves.