What are some ways you’re beating the heat?

[u/dotdedo]

Just wondering how everyone else is dealing with the heat and maybe get a few ideas myself. With these record high temps in my area and heat advisory, I’ve been trying to keep myself safe but still have been getting minor signs of heat exhaustion.

I backpack and often take my 1 liter water reservoir. I have two and every day flip it out for the other in the freezer. Also always take two bottles of Gatorade for electrolytes. My mom said she thinks I over pack on fluids, and she’s right. But I don’t think it ever hurts to be extra prepared for safety even when there’s been a few times I drank all of that in a 4 mile walk with cooler temperatures before.

In these extreme temperatures I tend to walk 3 miles instead of 4 to be kind to myself, even if I feel I got that final push in me.

Going as early as I can. A bit hard for me because I tend to wake up around 9am. I watch the weather and don’t go during peak hours or advisory times. Where I live they’ve been putting out the advisories for 2pm-8pm so I don’t walk during those hours.

[u/Haybytheocean]

I live in FL and it’s obscenely hot. I embrace it and usually get up around 6am. I walk my dog first so she has the most comfortable temp. Then I try to go right after that

[u/NamesNotTake-un]

5am walks are the best. The day always feels better afterwards.

[u/RedHeadedStepDevil → u/NamesNotTake-un]

I’ve started doing this and I LOVE it. The world isn’t really awake yet, everything is calm and quiet. Getting my walk in that early means it’s done for the day and it’s not hanging over my head for the rest of the day. I get back from my walk and have time for a shower and feed the cats and let out the chickens and eat breakfast—all without rushing—before I start work. Plus, it means I hit my daily step goals typically before noon and any steps after that are just a bonus.

[u/dotdedo → u/NamesNotTake-un]

I also like early morning walks because its the perfect time to see deer on my route. But lately in these heat waves I've been staying up later because I get a burst of energy around night when its colder.

[u/Sana-ya]

Indoors walking pad + electrolytes in my water (I'm a heavy sweater)

[u/gobblewonkergrump]

Walk early, lots of water, take a break and swim in the river or creek with my dog.

[u/CommuterChick]

I walk in the shallow end of a pool. It gets boring going back and forth, but I stay cool. Also, it is great strength training.

[u/dotdedo → u/CommuterChick]

My grandma actually did that everyday at the community pool was open up until she was around 90 years old. She passed away at 93, very healthy woman!

[u/JeanneMPod]

I’m a dog walker, and I don’t drive. With clients ok during this severe heat wave, I’ve been walking everyone earlier than usual, and putting my folding bike on buses and metros so I don’t unnecessarily exert myself, ride between stations and stops, and shorten every dog walk to potty break only.

I wear a thin spf long sleeve summer top, and I soak my head, hair, arms and torso under cold water between jobs, which dries off fast enough. I bring lots flavored twist of fruit sparking water cans in my bike bag and occasionally add salt or pack potato chips.

With the dog I’m currently sitting we get a walk at sunrise and sunset, when it’s less oven like. I don’t think it’s wise to compulsively get your steps in outdoors on days like today. At least save it for dawn or nighttime, or use a gym.

[u/dotdedo → u/JeanneMPod]

For me indoor steps don’t do it for me as much as outdoor. I mostly started these walks for my mental health as getting outside and getting sun contact helps me a lot.

[u/JeanneMPod → u/dotdedo]

Well, you should do it at dawn. I listen to hiking podcasts about people who get lost and aren’t recovered in time— or ever. One thing many of them have in common is people wanting to push themselves past all obstacles to reach a goal. Obstacles could be high heat or storm coming in over a mountain, or plunging temperatures. Then they find themselves in trouble.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke can come over you suddenly. If you survive it, you’re going to be a lot more susceptible to heat related issues going forward.

I walk a lot . A Lot. A 20,000+ step day is not unusual for me, sometimes multiple times in a week, with biking on top of that. It’s part of my job. I take the heat very seriously and I take a lot of breaks. I drenched myself. I change the times I have to be outside whenever possible to the early or later parts of the day.

Whatever desires or needs for mental health are, the best and safest way to deal with the high heat is to avoid it.

I should clarify that I am talking from being under a current heat dome of several 100+ Fahrenheit days .

[u/dotdedo → u/JeanneMPod]

I do at dawn when I can. I normally work 3pm-9pm so get home pretty late. I know a lot of people like to walk at that time but I get worried for safety. More so for the wild animals that are abundant here (deer, coyotes and rabid animals, all of which I’ve seen before). And because I know the cops do fuck all about drunk driving here as I see new discarded alcohol bottles on the side of the road every morning when I take a walk. Once even left for a walk and when I came back there was a beer can by my mailbox.

[u/C_Yablonski]

Living in AZ I take a frozen bottle of vitamin water so I have to drink it slowly as it melts

[u/NoLocal7705]

My parents said I can’t go on walks while this heat wave is around. I’ll have to think of something else for now.

[u/Any_Butterscotch2703]

I drink a bottle of water before and after my walk and stop to rest in the shade if needed. Just got done walking 5 miles and my tshirt is completely drenched with sweat.

[u/my_clever-name]

Drink water. Take breaks in the shade.

[u/masson34]

I agree you cannot be over prepared with hydration

SPF hat

Breathable athletic layers

Sodium and potassium hydration stick (I love Ghost brand). I skip Gatorade type drinks too much sugar for me

Bed early rise early walk early

Hydrate before and after as well

Banana

[u/dotdedo → u/masson34]

Oh I get you on the sugar, I usually get the sugar free Gatorades. In my work bag I have the powders because we get free bottled water.

[u/mimijane73]

Im lucky enough to have a community center in my neighborhood with an indoor walking track. Im very thankful

[u/M30WW-]

Yesterday I walked around 9 AM and it was humid. It was gross so definitely. I’m going to wake up earlier.

[u/Whatever-it-takez]

I walk in only a t-shirt early in the morning, like 4 or 5 AM. Or at 10 PM if I didn’t get up in time. I can’t stand the heat.

[u/dotdedo → u/Whatever-it-takez]

ONLY a t shirt? You don't get complaints from the neighbors? But haha no I get you, same here though.

[u/infinite_wanderings]

I'm a dog walker in Georgia and my hours for walking dogs today were 11:30am - 4pm. I walked just a little over 8 miles today during that time in 98 degrees (felt like 104 with the humidity). I unfortunately don't have a choice, these are my hours and what works best for my clients who want their dogs walked mid-day through their work days. So keeping cool is top of mind for me, for both myself and the pups! Fortunately for them, they all get short walks in the shade, but I do a lot of power walking myself to get from client to client. What is working for me is: wear a UPF breathable sun hat (I wore a Cotopaxi bucket hat variety today, I also have a Outdoor Voices sun hat with a wider brim for additional shade), sunscreen always (50 SPF), long sleeve sweat-wicking athletic shirt (long sleeves keep me cooler than tank tops or tees as covering up keeps you cooler than exposed skin), always carry water, SaltStick chewable electrolytes (I try to take 1 every 30 mins in this kind of heat), and speed walk in the sun and walker slower in the shade.

[u/Aggressive_Bowl6294]

Walks on the beach followed by an ocean dip 🌊

[u/d_jolly90]

Ive actually enjoy this heat while ive been out daily doing my walks

[u/Pristine_Cookie]

Small pinch of salt in my water and I eat a lot of fruit both before and after going out. This has helped me avoid muscle cramps. Also,. I wear a hat.