Summertime in Australia can be an intense experience and at times it really can feel like a struggle to survive the heat. If you aren’t thinking ahead and being sensible, it can take a heavy toll on your health. The following tips will help you keep cool and make the most of the great Aussie summer.

Close up in the day, open up in the night – When it gets hot, it gets really hot, and during the heat of the day even the breeze is stifling. You can usually tell if it’s going to be a warm day as it’ll start getting warm very early on in the day. Before it gets too hot, close all your windows, blinds and shades. This will allow the inside of your place to remain cooler for longer and make your home a refuge from the scorching hot day outside. Late in the evening once the day has cooled off, open everything up again to take advantage of any cool breeze or drop in temperature. It is definitely worth installing security doors and /or security screens so you can allow any breeze to come in at night while still leaving your home secure.

Do your chores early – If at all possible, get your workload for the day taken care of early while it is still cool. Anything you need to do outside, especially anything physically draining, get it done as early as you can. Often the temperature will be in the high twenties or even thirty degrees before noon and you’ll really not want to do much but stay cool once it heats up.

Eat cold – Using the oven on a hot day is not a smart thing to do. At the best of times the heat from the oven adds a lot of warmth to your home, so don’t make things worse on a blazing hot day by turning it on. It’s amazing the great meals you can make without using heat, so get a cold food recipe book and learn to do without the oven for a while.

Drink lots of water – You should always try to drink a lot of water, regardless of the temperature, though on hot days it can be a matter of life and death. Drink constantly, as you will be losing a huge amount through perspiration. Being without water when it’s hot can have very serious repercussions.

Cover up – Wear sunscreen at all times and apply it every couple hours, wear light long sleeves, and always have your hat on. Don’t underestimate the power of the sun in Australia. If you have any part of your body exposed for very long, you’ll end up with a burn you’ll never forget. Apart from the extreme discomfort that comes with a burn, skin cancer is a real danger, so if you want to be outside in the sun, be safe and cover up as much as you can.

Summer in Australia is a great time of year and there’s nothing better than getting outside and enjoying it. Be smart and stay cool this summer and you’ll not only survive but thrive this summer!