Does anyone else feel as though they’re melting right now? Over the weekend, UK temperatures hit 30ºC for the first time this year, and the Met Office estimates that temperatures are set to remain in the mid to high 20s until the end of the week.

According to forecasters, this is unlikely to be the only heatwave we experience in the coming months. The Met Office recently revealed that the chances of Britain experiencing a hot summer are now 45% – that’s 2.3 times higher than normal (and if that statistic just caused your climate anxiety to spike, you’re not alone).

When you’re on holiday – and able to laze around by the pool, go for a dip when you fancy it and retreat to an outdoor shady spot when you need one – the heat can feel more manageable.

But if you’re working from home in a small, stuffy room without the benefit of office air conditioning, these high temperatures can feel punishing (and it’s hard to focus on your to-do list when your brain feels like the consistency of a melted Solero).

So, what is the secret of keeping cool while WFH during a heatwave? Below, we’ve listed 13 hot weather hacks to help you keep the sweat at bay.  

Shut out the sun

It may seem counterintuitive, but keeping the curtains closed during the day will stop the sun from warming up your home workspace and turning it into an unpleasantly sticky greenhouse. 

Dress smart

If wearing no clothes isn’t an option, then dressing in the right materials and shapes is your best bet at staying cool. To make life even easier, you could even wear sweat-wicking workout clothes: you can check out our selection of the best gym tops for women or the best gym shorts for warmer weather workouts.

Take your socks off

The human body uses extremities, such as your hands and feet, to regulate your core temperature. This means that when it’s hot outside, the body will use your hands and feet to get rid of excess heat and keep itself from ‘overheating’… but it does mean your feet will get hot fast. Taking off your shoes and socks, then, is a surefire (albeit temporary) route to sheer bliss.

Freeze a hot water bottle

Just as you would in the winter, try using a hot water bottle. Freeze it, though, rather than fill it with boiling water, and sit with it against your feet. Why? Well, your feet and ankles are particularly sensitive to heat, as they have lots of pulse points, so popping something cool against them will initiate a cool-down effect over your entire body.

Build your own DIY aircon

Put a glass of ice water (or a bottle of water that you’ve frozen) in front of a fan, and then switch it on. It will create a cool breeze, recreating the icy chill of that air-conditioned office we’ve all come to know and love over the years.

Open the windows after sundown

Opening the windows later in the evening, when the air is cooler, will help to cool the air in your workspace ready for the next day. Then it’s just a matter of resistance: try not to open your windows during the day, as it could let all your cool air out (and all that hot air in).

Avoid caffeine (sorry!)

Your morning coffee can raise your body temperature, which isn’t great if you already feel hot. Swap it for a glass of water instead or, if you prefer your beverages hot, check out our article on the hot drink that cools you down.

Drink water

You should be drinking around six to eight glasses of water a day at the best of times. When it’s hot outside and you’re sweating more than normal, you may need to sip just a little bit more. Remember, if you’re feeling thirsty then you’re already starting to dehydrate, so take regular sips of water to stop this happening.

Also, if you are planning on working out in the heat, make sure you are drinking water correctly while exercising (because, yes, there is a right way of doing it). 

Cool your pulse points

Get strategic with your ice packs and press them against the pulse points on your wrist, neck, chest or temples – aka the spots that release the most heat from the body, and where the veins flow closest to the surface of the skin. This will expedite the cooling-down sensation you’re looking for. Just remember to cover your skin with a towel to protect it and keep contact limited to 20 minutes at a time.

Note: you can run your wrists under the cold tap for the same effect.

Cold press your neck

A cold flannel against your neck is a clever way to target the part of the brain that senses and regulates body temperature. Fold a flannel in half, douse it in water and press it against the back of your neck for a while. You’ll feel better in no time.

Sit at the table

Sitting with a hot laptop on your knees is a surefire route to hot weather misery. Instead, pop yours on the table (or any hard surface) and work that way. Less convenient, sure, but on the plus side, it’ll be better for your posture.

Unplug your charger

Even something as small as a smartphone charger can generate unwanted heat, which increases the room temperature and can make you feel even hotter. Unplug the electronics you’re not using (including lamps) if you want to cool things down.

And finally… change your working hours (if possible)

If you’re working from home at the moment, consider asking your boss if you can adjust your hours. Start earlier (say 6am) to maximise productivity before the sun hits its highest point in the sky. If you aren’t an early bird, consider taking a leaf out of Spain’s book and adopt the ‘siesta’, a short nap taken in the early afternoon to avoid the gaze of the midday sun, and work a little later to make up the time lost. 

This article was originally published on 28 May 2020, and has been updated throughout.

Words: Kayleigh Dray, Lauren Geall, Katie Rosseinsky

Images: Getty/Unsplash