HOW TO STAY HOT (WHEN IT'S TOO HOT TO FUNCTION)

Summer can be emotionally and physically taxing. For many people, this season can negatively impact mood and affect the way the body regulates itself. If you're not having the fun you think you should be having - you are not alone. Summer comes with an expectation to be happy. With these tips, you can actually make that a reality.

1. Getting cooling pillows

Summer disrupts the sleep cycle. Warm nights and overheating can genuinely feel unbearable and keep you from getting a good night's rest. Investing in cooling pillows can help take the temperature down. Cooling pillows can come in eco-friendly material like organic cotton, shredded latex, and kapok with plant-based, moisture wicking covers.

2. Turn seasonal depression into reflection

This season may seem like the worst one to feel miserable in. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing and it's the difference between just feeling unpleasant and severe depression. The pressure to be happy can feel like a burden. You can still take this time and turn it into a period of reflection. Reflect positively on the things you have accomplished this year - and what you would like to accomplish before the year ends. Journalling is also a habit that can relieve some of that heaviness.

3. Use plant oils to get rid of bugs - make your home smell welcoming

Are bugs multiplying a thousand-fold in your house? Their appearance can ruin your day but there are other alternatives to chemicals. Natural oils can not only ward off bugs but improve the smell of your home - inside and outside. Citronella and lemongrass take care of insects like mosquitoes and gnats. Flies, fleas, or ticks? Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, and Cedar oil can repel these pesky insects. These oils also have a secondary effect of lifting your mood.

4. Wear clothes that are functionable and fashionable

In times of sweltering heat, less clothes seem more preferable. However, this type of weather can create body dysphoric feelings. Wearing less clothes can mean being more aware of parts of your body you don't like. If you feel self-conscious about your body, you can still wear things you enjoy! Aim for a balance - loose and structured without seeming too formless or too tight. Wear silhouettes that make you feel good but are also lightweight and breathable fabrics.

5. Load up on sorbet and other cold treats when your appetite is killed

It can get so hot, you may not feel like eating hot foods - or anything in general. The heat can create unhealthy eating patterns for many people. If you are the kind of person whose appetite is killed off in extreme heat, you can still find food you enjoy without suffering. Cold treats are a great way to bring your appetite back and cool down. Fruit ice cream is a current food trend going viral right now. You can do a vegan version by swapping out the dairy for plant-based milk, or skipping the ice cream wholesale and indulging in traditional sorbet.

6. Put the phone down. Stop scrolling through everyone's bikini pics and comparing yourself

Without realizing it, you may be scrolling through hundreds and hundreds of people's bikini pics or beach body selfies. If scrolling through your IG feed has been doing some serious damage to your mental health - pivot to something else! Uninstalling apps or merely limiting time on your phone can help with your mental health if you struggle with body image issues.

Even if you can't have fun, you can still take care of your physical and mental health. Prioritizing these things will make your summer feel more like the summer it was meant to be - not like the one everyone expects you to have. So enjoy the time you have left!

Sources:

Seeds of Hope Support, "How Summer Months Can Negatively Affect Self-Esteem"