These are my top 10 tips for keeping cool when working in your yard or playing with the kids. It sounds ridiculous to proclaim it’s hot this summer, especially if you live in Florida, where our average summer day is in the mid-90s. North Florida’s summer temperatures are usually higher than those on either coast or those in South Florida. But it’s felt unusually hot this year, with hot daily temperatures, steamy, humid conditions, and 95°F since mid-April. It’s a jungle out here.
I love working in my garden most days, but the extreme hot weather makes it much harder and less fun. Today, August 8, we have a heat advisory because the “feels like” temperature is 105°F. I haven’t run outside to try to cook an egg on the pavement yet, but I think you probably could.
I am adapting to the hot weather by employing a few tactics to keep cool this summer when working in the yard. I’ve walked into my pool fully clothed on a hot day, grabbed the hose, and drenched myself in an emergency. But a little planning goes a long way to keeping your cool.
Labor in the morning
Timing is everything in hot weather. Start early in the day or work late in the evening. These are the coolest parts of the day and ideal for gardening. I am out the door at 6:30 a.m. when the sun rises. It is always more relaxed at this time of day. I complete my daily tasks by 10:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. before the day’s heat arrives.
Stay in the shade and out of the sun.
I spent $40 on this umbrella, which rotates easily into the ground to provide temporary shade in the garden. It also doubles as our beach umbrella when we travel to the coast, so the investment was well worth it.
Work in the shade and move around the yard with the sun. The sunny part of your yard can be 10-15° hotter. I will even set up a beach umbrella in the full-sun area of the yard. That helps!
Wear a hat for shade and cooling.
I love Arctic Air caps and hats. They are available in many stores and claim to lower your heat temperature by up to 20°. These hats have UV protection and are lightweight with ventilated panels. On really hot days, I’ll soak them in cold water. It helps!
Cooling towels are a gift.
A cooling towel slows body temperature and helps you beat the heat. They are breathable fabric towels that create a cooling effect when wet. They promote hyper evaporation, which draws sweat away from the skin to cool you down.
Drink water
Water is nature’s way of providing hydration. You should drink between 2 and 3 liters of water per day. When you’re out in the sun, plan to drink a liter of water per hour to stay hydrated and replace water with perspiration. You can mix in a bottle or two of electrolyte water to replenish minerals during the day.
Small efforts get rewarded.
Working in small bursts of energy can keep your body temperature low. Tackle your weeding project in small 15- —to 20-minute segments, resting intermittently. The end result is the same—you finish the project. But your chance of overheating is lower if you take frequent breaks.
Wear clothes with SPF blocking to save your life literally
I was diagnosed with melanoma in my 40s (the most fatal skin cancer). I gravitate toward long-sleeved shirts with an SPF 50 sunblock knit into the fabric. Be aware that this type of clothing will lose its ability to block UV rays over time, so it’s a good idea to replace them every season or two.
I found Reel Legends on sale at Bealls here in Florida. They made safe sun clothing for fishing.
Install misting fans
Electronic misting fans have come down in price and now make sense for the residential homeowner. I bought two Utilitech misting fans. They need to be plugged into an electrical and water source, but they are light enough for me to move them around without help. They are weather-resistant and well-made. Both are still working great at the end of year one, but be sure to empty the water line every time you use it, and don’t leave it out in the harsh weather when it isn’t in use.
My brick patio gets very hot. It’s too hot for bare or pet feet without some precautions. The back patio faces South in my yard and gets full sun all day. I suspend a “sun shade” over the arbors from June through September. I added two misting fans to the patio this year and coupled with the sunshade, we can now enjoy early dinners on the deck. The plants enjoy the added humidity during the day when temperatures exceed 95°.
A spray bottle is excellent for emergency cooling.
Designate a clean spray bottle for plain water to mist plants and yourself in every high-heat environment. Spraying water on your arms, face, and legs can revive your strength and energy. But the real benefit is that a quick spray can lower your body temperature enough so you can walk back to shade and safety for a full recovery!
Work at a slower pace and take breaks.
You should never work at full speed in the heat of the day. Listen to your body and adapt by taking frequent breaks and working at a slower pace to give yourself an opportunity to recoup from the heat.