It’s getting hotter. Global warming is starting to have a very tangible impact on weather in the UK, with temperatures recently hitting an all-time high. When we’re abroad we know how to deal with it. For one thing, most indoor locations are air-conditioned by necessity in hot countries and we’re not working – we’re relaxing. Staying cool at home, particularly when we’re working, however, is not as easy as switching the AC on.

You COULD always fork out hundreds of pounds on an AC unit but let’s be honest; you’d only end up turning it on a few days every year and the extra cost of your energy bills would be astronomical. So, what alternatives are there besides blasting a table fan in your face 24/7 until everything returns to normal?

Stay hydrated

We need water to live, it’s as simple as that. When it’s hot, our bodies are put under immense pressure to work harder to regulate our internal temperature and that requires water to happen. So, while we’d always recommend drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day even on mild days, think about drinking even more than that on a very hot day. Also, ensure you’re drinking properly filtered water to ensure you’re getting all the right nutrients without any potentially harmful bacteria.

Regulate the windows

Whether or not you keep the windows open should depend on the air temperature in your home and the air temperature outside. If it’s cooler outside (for instance, late at night) then keeping a window open will help circulate cooler air. If it’s warmer outside, meanwhile, all opening the window is doing is letting in that hotter air.

Close your curtains

It might look a little like you’re in mourning but everyone else will probably be doing it anyway. Shutting your curtains means less direct sunlight that can quickly heat up a room. This is particularly true between the hours of 9am and 3pm when the sun is at its highest and most radiant.

Lay off the intoxicants

While it might be tempting to reach for a bottle of wine at the end of an incredibly warm day to help lull us to sleep, in the long run, you’ll be doing yourself more harm than good. The same is (unfortunately) true of coffee, tea and soft drinks. This is because both alcohol and caffeine are diuretics that cause you to lose more water than you’re taking on.

Eat small meals often

Not that you’ll feel like a heavy meal in 30 degrees+ weather anyway but heavy food will sit on your stomach and put your body under even more stress. Stick to salads and fruit and try to snack throughout the day rather than eating three big meals.

Change your schedule

There’s a reason why workers in hot countries take a siesta during the middle of the day; that’s when the weather is almost impossible to work in. Try shifting your schedule around (if possible) so that you do more work early in the morning and later in the evening when the sun is lower and there’s more chance of a breeze.

Most importantly of all, don’t forget to take a break occasionally! If you’re struggling, pressing on regardless is only going to make you less productive in the long run. So, why not consider that mid-day siesta and reward yourself with a nice, chilled glass of filtered water?