Ways to chill out this summer
Summer has finally arrived, and with it comes those sweltering, sticky days that make us run for the air conditioning! Since the library can’t be open yet to offer you relief from the weather, instead we would like to give you some ‘cool’ facts about the heat, and some unique ideas for staying cool at home!
Why do some people love the heat and others don’t?
First, the science: the part of your brain that regulates your internal body temperature is called the hypothalamus, but there are many factors that can affect it, and make you feel hotter than normal. Are you feeling pressure or anxiety in your life? Stress is one of the big reasons that can increase our body temperature, so take some deep breaths and try some relaxation techniques to cool off.
Effects of Heat on behaviour
Do you find yourself feeling more agitated and less patient when the temperature goes up? You aren’t alone! That’s because the heat affects our mood in many ways, depending on our personality. This is due to the stress hormone in our body, called cortisol, which tends to rise when the temperatures begin to soar.
Also, as our body struggles to maintain a balanced internal temperature, it uses up resources that would otherwise be available for our mental processes. As a result, we are less able to make complex decisions, and we might find ourself making more mistakes. So until it gets cooler, keep things light, and pick up a summer read from the library!
Unique ideas for staying cool
- Try rubbing on some aloe. You don’t need to be sunburned to feel the cooling benefits of aloe vera, you will feel much cooler than if you took a cold shower! Why? Because aloe penetrates skin cells four times faster than water!
- Wear something blue. Swiss researchers found that people feel cooler when they see the color blue, and wearing a blue shirt helps even more. Ultraviolet rays from the sun bounce off lighter colours, protecting your skin, and lowering your risk of sunburn.
- Chewing gum is the ultimate chill pill, especially if it’s cinnamon, spearmint or peppermint gum. Why? Those scents stimulate your brain’s sensory perception and literally trick your body into thinking it’s cooler than it really is.
Ideas for Families
- Have a trampoline in the backyard? Spray the hose underneath and watch your children jump for joy to be cooled down!
- Make a fast and easy air conditioner out of a cooler!
- Get out some buckets of water and sponges and have the kids paint anything with water--the fence, the deck, their toy cars! With water, comes splashing and cooling off!
- If its hard for kids (or you) to sleep, try putting their pillowcase in the freezer for ten minutes before bed! The cold fabric against their head will help them nod off faster.
- For a quick cool down, run cold water, or place an ice cube on your wrists for 30-60 seconds and you will feel cooler instantly.
- Don’t forget about the cooling effects (and deliciousness) of ice cream! Check out Rachael Ray’s 11 fun things to do with ice cream!
- To make better use of a fan, try putting a bowl of ice cubes in front of it, as it blows on you! Instant cool!
As the days heat up, we hope you can use some of these ideas to cool your body and mind, and don’t forget that the Brantford Public Library is always here to offer you some summer reads online or curbside as you relax and stay chill!