Things to Do When it is Too Hot Outside
Some of our team's favorite things to do when it is too hot outside include swimming, taking cold showers, and cycling.
When the hotter days of summer come around, you may be tempted to stay inside and lie around all day. However, it is still possible to engage in activities—both outside and indoors.
We asked our team what their favorite activities were during hot days. Keep reading for their answers, as well as delicious cold recipes to try.
Remember to wear sunscreen
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is important to wear sunscreen every day—and this is especially true when it comes to hot and sunny ones.
Many of the following activities take place outdoors. If you are going outside, be sure to apply broad-spectrum sunscreen that is at least 30 SPF, and reapply as needed. This can help reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
Take a cold shower
Editor Morgan Mandriota likes to take a cool shower before lying on the couch with the air conditioning blasting.
Managing Editor Kenny Thapoung likes to lie out by a pier with friends before his shower.
'The post-pier shower and nap are wildly refreshing,' he says.
According to a 2024 study, cold showers can stimulate vasoconstriction, which is the narrowing of blood vessels. This can increase alertness and potentially improve your body's response to stress.
Further, cold showers are a type of cold therapy, which is associated with several health benefits, such as:
increasing alertness
improving mood
reducing inflammation
supporting the immune system
promoting sleep
improving recovery from exercise
Stay in the shade—or the AC
Editor Parisa Syed says that if she has to be outside, she wants to be in the shade with an iced coffee.
'I prefer sitting inside in a sweat-free environment with AC,' she says.
Editor Heather Hobbs likes to alternate between swimming and lying in the shade next to the water.
Editor Naomi Farr says she makes popsicles and enjoys them outside before going indoors to read in the AC. Project Manager Adam Balderrama says that inside, he likes cold movie theaters.
Editor Tim Snaith says that cycling is its own air conditioning.
'A ride along the seafront here, especially into a breeze, is a great way to enjoy the sights and sounds, and cool down a little,' he says.
Biking regularly may benefit your mental health and improve life satisfaction. In older adults, biking may improve cognitive and executive functioning.
Get in the water
Balderrama says his outdoor activities need to be near some body of water, such as a pool, lake, or beach.
Swimming in open water, such as lakes, may boost your mood and improve symptoms of depression and anxiety. It may also increase your cardiorespiratory fitness and improve metabolic syndrome risk factors, including:
total cholesterol
LDL (bad) cholesterol
triglycerides
blood glucose
body mass index (BMI)
body fat percentage
Manager Heidi Smith says that her activities also revolve around water.
'Watering flowers or cleaning off the house with a hose doesn't feel like a chore,' she says. 'Relaxing time is either spent at a lake or sitting in an inflatable pool—I don't even care what people think!'
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