It’s all about the simple ways to beat the heat.
Let me give you five tips that will help you stay as cool as a cucumber.
- DRINK ELECTROLYTES
When you are sweating a lot, drinking water is important, but your body also loses electrolytes. Start your morning with a glass of water with a squeeze of fresh lime and, if you like, a small pinch of salt. In the Dominican Republic, you can find fresh coconut water at almost every street corner, and it is a delicious natural source of electrolytes. Check the picture with this post for a few more ideas that can help you stay hydrated and have enough energy to handle the day.
- SHOWER TWICE A DAY
And sometimes three times, but let’s keep it to the basics for now. Before you go to bed, you are not only washing off the dust and sand from the beach, you are also getting that lovely clean feeling that makes sleeping in the heat much easier. Do as the Dominicans do and wash properly with a nice bar of soap, then apply a good antiperspirant or deodorant. In the morning, shower again before starting your day and use a lighter deodorant for that fresh feeling that will carry you through the morning.
- TAKE A SIESTA
If you have the possibility, schedule a 45-minute siesta during the hottest part of the day. You are not being lazy, you are being smart about living in the tropics. In fact, many shops and businesses close for a while during the middle of the day, so you will not be the only one taking a break. Give your body some time to rest and recharge, and it will thank you later.
- WEAR LOOSE LINEN
Light, loose clothing lets your skin breathe and helps you stay cooler. Linen is wonderful in the tropics, and cotton is another good choice, so check the labels when you shop. You definitely do not want to discover halfway through a merengue dance that you are wearing a synthetic outfit that refuses to let your body breathe. In the Caribbean, loose and comfortable is not just a fashion choice, it makes life much more pleasant.
- BE CAREFUL WITH ALCOHOL
Cocktails are beautiful in pictures and some of them taste almost like a smoothie, so they can go down very easily. But alcohol can contribute to dehydration, and that can make you feel the heat much more. Add a few cocktails, a hot afternoon and plenty of sunshine, and you may end up with a much bigger headache than you planned for. Enjoy your drink, of course, just remember to drink water too.
Give these tips a try and you might just become that ice-cold friend everybody loves to hug.
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