{"id":906,"date":"2025-07-31T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-31T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/?p=906"},"modified":"2025-08-01T19:12:06","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T19:12:06","slug":"can-you-still-love-summer-when-its-so-damn-hot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/31\/can-you-still-love-summer-when-its-so-damn-hot\/","title":{"rendered":"Can you still love summer when it\u2019s so damn hot?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you\u2019ve found yourself thinking this summer feels hotter than normal, you\u2019re right. It\u2019s not just the occasional heat dome<\/a> trapping most of the nation in 90-degree heat; the summers have been steadily getting hotter on average<\/a> because of climate change.<\/p>\n

That extreme heat is extremely dangerous to vulnerable populations<\/a> like children, pregnant people, older adults, those with chronic illnesses, and people who work outside. Spending even a short amount of time out in the sun on a sweltering day increases your chances of developing a heat-related illness<\/a>, like heat cramps or heat stroke. Soaring temps can affect your mental health, too, contributing to increased irritability and exacerbated mental health conditions<\/a>. There\u2019s a name for it: summertime seasonal affective disorder<\/a>. It has been shown to make people agitated, less productive, and prone to isolation. <\/p>\n

To protect yourself from extreme heat, experts advise staying inside in air conditioning<\/a>. But after a long winter of daydreaming about the joys of the season \u2014 days at the public pool<\/a>, backyard barbecues, cocktails under the stars \u2014 the last thing you may want to do is remain cooped up. Summers are now beset by trade-offs; hunkering down in the AC to stay safe means forgoing the fruits of long, warm days. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy clients will talk a lot about when the sun is out, they feel this sense of guilt,\u201d says Susan Albers<\/a>, a clinical psychologist at the Cleveland Clinic. \u201cLike they have to go outside and enjoy it because it doesn’t happen so often.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mental<\/a> and physical health benefits<\/a> of spending time outdoors are well documented<\/a>, but when extreme heat makes being outside dangerous, how can you cope? The planet isn\u2019t cooling down any time soon, so you may need to adjust your habits and expectations to confront a new norm. Whether that means becoming an early bird or embracing indoor exercise, there are ways to adapt to ever-warming summers. <\/p>\n

\u201cHaving the mindset that it is okay to be inside,\u201d Albers says. \u201cWe’re not hibernating, but we’re choosing to do this seasonal reset. To spend some time inside is good for our mental health, and it doesn’t have to be a negative thing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Stay mentally well<\/h2>\n

Because heat can increase irritability and agitation, it\u2019s important to take extra measures to stay cool, calm, and collected \u2014 literally. Be aware of how the heat is impacting your mood and where you feel most at ease. Maybe you feel the best while watching a movie after work or when winding down in the AC on the train during your commute. Take advantage of those moments and make sure they\u2019re a part of your regular routine. <\/p>\n

\u201cI recommend avoiding any big decisions or big challenges on days that the heat is soaring,\u201d Albers says. \u201cMake sure that you’re in a good space and feeling cool and calm before making any kind of big decisions,\u201d since you might not be in the right frame of mind if you\u2019re too hot. <\/p>\n

The same goes for kids, too. If they\u2019re overheated, they\u2019re more likely to be agitated, Albers says. <\/p>\n

One easy way to relax and cool off, Albers says, is to place a cool washcloth on your forehead or neck to reset the vagus nerve, which can affect your mood<\/a>, heart rate, and digestion. One study found that a cold sensation on the neck<\/a> helped decrease stress by stimulating the nerve.<\/p>\n

Getting exposure to bright light in the morning<\/a> is essential for maintaining your circadian rhythm and uplifting your mood, even in the summer, Albers says. Even if you don\u2019t go outside, open the blinds and sit by a window to soak in some rays.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, make sure you stick to a regular bedtime and get enough sleep<\/a>, even when the sun is up later. A lack of rest can also negatively affect your mood.<\/a><\/p>\n

Keep active<\/h2>\n

While it can be tempting to skip your workout when it\u2019s hot out, you should still make an effort to move your body. But unless you have a gym membership, you\u2019ll need to reschedule your runs during oppressive summer days. If you\u2019re going to exercise outdoors, try to do it in the early morning \u2014 preferably before 10 am \u2014 and in the shade, says Aaron Hipp<\/a>, a professor of community health and sustainability at North Carolina State University. You can check the National Weather Service HeatRisk<\/a>, which assigns risk categories based on heat conditions, to determine the health impacts of heat. <\/p>\n

Don\u2019t feel guilty paring back intensity or cutting your workout short if you feel too hot. Walking alone is related to lower mortality \u2014 and you don\u2019t need to stroll for hours on end<\/a> to see a benefit. Public pools and splash pads are good options for cooler outdoor activity. \u201cMaybe you’re a runner in the fall and spring,\u201d Hipp says, \u201cand in the summer, you need to be a walker. And that’s fine. You’re moving, you’re being active.\u201d<\/p>\n

Many people lack access to gyms, public pools, and parks and green spaces with adequate shade and water fountains, however. Those people can still move their bodies at home by following along with YouTube videos or doing bodyweight exercises<\/a>, Hipp says, like crunches, push-ups, and squats. <\/p>\n

Whatever your activity level, it\u2019s crucial to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and take frequent breaks<\/a>. If you\u2019re working (or working out) in the sun, drink one cup of water every 15 to 20 minutes<\/a> or one ounce of fluid<\/a> per pound of body weight.<\/p>\n

Maintain social connections<\/h2>\n

Staying indoors when it seems like so many people are outdoors can lead to a lack of social interaction, which isn\u2019t good for you either. Spending too much time alone has negative impacts<\/a> on cardiovascular health, blood pressure, mental health, and cognitive function. <\/p>\n

Most people\u2019s social health would benefit from one meaningful conversation<\/a> with a friend or family member each day, according to research. You can enlist a friend as an accountability buddy for your morning walks, which serves a double benefit, according to Hipp. \u201cYou’ve got somebody to talk to,\u201d he says. \u201cFor safety reasons, you’ve got somebody watching out for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maximize social interactions with colleagues at work and strangers you see on your commute or while running errands to ensure you\u2019re getting some socialization, especially if you live alone or work remotely.<\/p>\n

Even if the events on your social calendar don\u2019t look quite as you planned, it\u2019s important to keep up with friends. Bring the picnics indoors and let the kids set up a tent in the living room for sleepovers. While it might not be the summer you imagined, you have the power to create new traditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe mindset is really important,\u201d Albers says. \u201cKnowing that it’s going to be okay to stay inside during the summertime for your mental health.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve found yourself thinking this summer feels hotter than normal, you\u2019re right. It\u2019s not just the occasional heat dome trapping most of the nation in 90-degree heat; the summers have been steadily getting hotter on average because of climate change. That extreme heat is extremely dangerous to vulnerable populations like children, pregnant people, older…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":908,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-906","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-climate"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/906","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=906"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/906\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":909,"href":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/906\/revisions\/909"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/908"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=906"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=906"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/audiomateria.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=906"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}