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. Tomorrow is forecasted to be the hottest day so far on record.

1. Keep hydrated!

Whatever you do in this heat, do not go anywhere without water. This month is #plasticfreejuly, so 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. Keep drinking glasses of water to stay hydrated in between rounds. Try and avoid sugary drinks too. Drinks with electrolytes are often a good shout as they replenish salts which 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-creams 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 anti-histamines. 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 from 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 traveling on trains if possible. This is because many trains have been canceled 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 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 mid-day when it is usually at its hottest.

I shop in 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 adorning 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 phones. 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 it covered. Also, make sure the sunglasses you wear to protect your eyes.

9. Go shopping

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, ice-creams to keep myself hydrated in this heatwave. You will find me outside dining al fresco enjoying the sunshine!

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!