Be a fan of fans: 10 tips to keep cool at work this summer

Ok – so this is the UK. Unfortunately, we don’t have a long summer of blazing sunshine and 30-degree heat, but we have had some really hot days. As much as we’d love to spend them on a beach, drink in hand, and fans to help us cool down, we end up being hot and sticky at work… but this doesn’t have to be the case. Here are 10 tips to keep cool at work this summer.

Drink water – drinking little but often to keep hydrated is one of the most important things we can do to keep cool and warn off dehydration that can result in headaches. A mains water cooler will provide a source of unlimited chilled, purified water.
Get a fan – fans can provide immediate relief for sizzling skin. Maybe try putting a desk fan under your desk– your feet and legs keep a lot of your body’s heat, plus this will avoid your paperwork taking a trip to the other end of the office.
Get an air conditioner- cool and dehumidify to help keep staff comfortable in the hear
Open the windows and close the blinds. This will help block the sun’s heat.
Eat and drink cool – keep your drinks chilled and your salads and sandwiches cool with a mini-fridge. Maybe get a stash of ice pops and ice creams to keep your temperature down and satisfy your inner snacker at the same time.
Wear lightweight, cotton clothes. Heat is trapped by synthetic fibers, but cotton absorbs perspiration and its evaporation causes you to feel cooler.
Turn off electrical heat sources – and save money too! Computers and other office machines – printers, photocopiers, and televisions generate a lot of heat. Set them to sleep mode or turn them off completely.
Humidity inside a room will make it feel hotter. Dehumidifiers can help ‘de-muggify’ a room.
Brainpower – Imagine you’re chilling out in Antarctica, or making snow angels in December. You might not be physically cooler, but if your mind envisions a cooler environment you might still feel a bit cooler.
If all else fails – get a garden hose and go out and have a water fight!