10 ways to survive a heatwave

We all love the summer months when it’s warm outside, and the streets of London are littered with people all smiling, eating al fresco, and drinking late into the evenings with colleagues and friends. Yet the city almost turns into a dystopia when it becomes a heatwave.

Tube journeys feel like you are burning alive in an underground furnace. The streets resemble concrete jungles with not enough greenery to sit down and relax. Any spot is already taken by the time you get out of work. It’s a fight to get into air-conditioned eateries around the city.

I thought I would take this opportunity to list out my top 10 things to do to survive a heatwave in the city.

1. Keep hydrated!

Whatever you do in this heat, do not go anywhere without water. Use a water bottle to take some chilled water with you everywhere. If you don’t already have one, consider buying a reusable water bottle. This way, you’re not constantly buying single-use plastics in this hot weather.

It might seem exciting to hit the town when the sun is out. Yet drinking alcohol in this heat can be dangerous. Opt for wine spritzers or gin and tonics, or have an alcohol-free evening!. Keep drinking glasses of water to stay hydrated. Try to avoid sugary drinks too. Drinks with electrolytes are often a good shout as they replenish salts that you lose through sweating in this heat.

2. Stock up on ice-creams

Forget diets right now. Keep cool by stocking up on ice creams or lollies this month. You can buy some cheap and amazing ones in many stores. Someone at work bought the office all ice cream yesterday. I was incredibly happy to have one! I have loaded up my freezer ahead of tomorrow with ice lollies from Aldi.

3. Eat alfresco

I recently moved and have the most wonderful garden with a picnic table. Whilst I am a hay fever sufferer and on very strong antihistamines. I love eating alfresco each evening. Whether you have a garden or are close to a park. Spending time outdoors is great for the soul. I am not overly hungry in the heat, so a picnic is perfect for this weather. I recently met up with members of the UK Money Bloggers group in a park. You can use this opportunity to meet friends or eat outside with your housemates.

4. Invest in a fan

I am sure Amazon and Argos love this time of year when there is a virtual stampede to snap up a fan. I lost mine in one of my house moves. I will be on Amazon Prime tonight. I am trying to find the cheapest but most effective fan. It will cool me down tomorrow. I found a great tower fan costing £25.99 on Amazon. My brother suggested placing a plate of ice in front of the fan. This will cool the air in the room.

Fortunately for me, my workplace has agreed that we can all work from home tomorrow. Warnings have been issued to avoid travelling on trains if possible. This is because many trains have been cancelled due to the hot weather.

5. Enjoy cool showers

I will have a cold shower in the morning when it is this hot. I will take another shower in the evening to cool down. When everyone has been sweating on the tube, and you feel the grime of the city on your skin. It’s important to keep up with self-care and make sure that your skin is kept hydrated and cleansed. It’s a great way of bringing your overall body temperature down, too.

6. Keep your home curtains drawn

Shut the windows and pull down the shades when it’s hotter outside. That seems the wrong way around, as your first response is to open the windows and the curtains. Yet, if your room faces the sun, it will heat your room. If you suffer from hay fever, be cautious about opening the windows in the evenings. Depending on whether you are in a relationship or not, think about sleeping alone for one night!

7. Protect yourself

It’s tempting to sunbathe in a heatwave to sport a tan. Still, the last thing you want is to burn yourself. Even if, like this chap, you just want to be Batman. Try to avoid the sun at midday when it is usually at its hottest.

I shop at Superdrug or Boots. Don’t skimp on protecting your face, chest, and arms from the rays of the sun. Keep cleansing, then moisturising using an SPF filter to protect your skin. I buy face masks from Superdrug, like the Garnier Moisture Bomb Chamomile Hydrating Face Sheet Mask (£1.99), which will also hydrate and cool the skin. Put it in the fridge before applying for extra coolness.

8. Wear light clothing

One of my bugbears in the city is having to travel on the underground when you’re wearing summer clothes. When you wear a summer skirt, there’s a risk of flashing your lovely bum cheeks. This happens to anyone behind you who isn’t looking at their mobile phone. Or I am having a Marilyn Monroe moment when my dress or skirt blows up in the summer breeze. You don’t want to wear anything tight in the extremely hot weather. Still, you want to flaunt what your mother blessed you with. During a heatwave, wear next to nothing in your own home. Choose something loose-fitting and appropriate for work with colleagues. I love Primark and New Look when shopping for summer clothes on a budget.

Wear light clothing. Be sure to wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face, ears, and neck. These areas are especially sensitive and prone to sun damage in a heatwave, so keep them covered. Also, make sure you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.

9. Go shopping (anywhere where there is decent aircon)

As a rule, I hate shopping. Yet when I stepped into the cool oasis that was Aldi today, I felt blessed. Cool air, freezers – this is the one time that you should go shopping. I have bought lots of melons, grapes, and ice cream to keep myself hydrated in this heatwave. I may have also been seen loitering around the freezer section for waaay too long.

10. Find a lido or beach

Lambeth is home to one of the most amazing Lidos in London – in Herne Hill, Brockwell Park. There are several Lidos tucked away in the city. These include Lambeth Lido, London Fields Lido, and Tooting Bec Lido. I worked on MTV’s Living on the Edge shoot at Tooting Bec Lido. They also include Parliament Hill Lido. Why not head to a lido after work tomorrow? If you are lucky to be off for the day, head straight to the beach!

Broke Girl Top Tip 💗

Hot girl summer? Not this girl.

Clothes off. Cold flannel on. Even better, I’m sleeping alone.

When it’s 28°C at midnight, the last thing you need is another human being radiating heat next to you.

Coupled up? Congratulations. You’re sleeping in a long-distance one tonight. 😂 Romance can resume when the temperature drops.

Relationship status: currently unavailable for cuddling.