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In the middle of winter, it can be hard to think about the discomfort of a heatwave. You might be longing for those warmer and brighter days now the holiday season is behind you. However, with spring on the horizon, it won’t be too long until those hot summer days will return and it’s important to be prepared for those especially scorching days. Working through a heatwave can be unpleasant, particularly if you’re working in an office with a lot of computers and other electrical appliances switched on, raising temperatures even further. To help you feel more comfortable when you’re working during a heatwave, use the following tips.
Wear Light Clothing
While you still need to dress appropriately for the office, choosing lighter materials and colors can help you stay cool when the weather is warm. Sleeveless blouses or short-sleeved shirts will still look professional but help you feel more comfortable. You could even consider bringing a change of clothes with you to work if you want to get into something more casual when you leave the office if it’s still hot outside on your way home.
Stay Hydrated
This is essential for your health, and it’s much easier to go for long periods without a drink than you might realize. During a heatwave always make sure that there is a bottle of water with you at your desk, and sip regularly to help you stay hydrated. If you’re feeling particularly warm, consider splashing some water on your face to help you cool off, just make sure you don’t drench yourself!
Get a Desk Fan
Hopefully, your office building will have air conditioning to help everyone stay cool when it’s hot, but this isn’t always the case. If you don’t have air conditioning or you’re still feeling too warm with it, ask your manager if you can bring in a desk fan to help you stay cool when working. Most managers will be happy for their teams to do this. Alternatively, you could ask them to look into leasing or purchasing mobile air conditioning units that can be used during heatwaves in the office but aren’t permanent fixtures.
Open the Windows
If you’re in a high-rise building this might not be an option for you, but for offices in other buildings simply opening the windows to let a breeze come through could help. While it might be hot and humid outside, some fresh air will help the office to feel slightly less stuffy. However, if you do have air conditioning, you might find keeping the windows closed is a better way to stay cool.
Avoid Sitting in Direct Sunlight
Natural light spilling into the office is always nice, but in the middle of a heatwave, sitting in direct sunlight which is made more intense with the magnifying glass effect of the windows can be incredibly uncomfortable. You might even find yourself getting sunburned! Move to a shadier part of the office to work or lower the blinds to keep yourself from getting too hot.
Working through a heatwave is always uncomfortable, but these tips could help you feel better when you’re in the office while the sun is blazing outside.
