Unlike in Game of Thrones, where Winter is always coming, in Charlotte, North Carolina, it is obvious that Summer is coming! As we all woke this morning to a fabulous 65 degrees, it reminded me of what is to come: The humidity, the sweating, the “freshly flat ironed hair gone curly wild mess”, the constant guessing game of “What to wear in order to NOT melt?”. Summer is a beautiful thing, and when you are lying by the pool, tanning, reading, jamming to your IPod summer tunes and relaxing, all of these things dont matter. What about the work hours?
Today, I will fill you in on nifty ways to survive the summertime!
Obviously, the first thing that you need, whether in an office or poolside, is water! Water is super super important. Not only does it keep you hydrated, but it is healthy. If you are like me, and you cant stand the “simple”, “boring” taste, feel free to add drink mix ALL DAY!!
The clothing that you decide to wear to work will also be very important. Try to wear lightweight, bright colored clothing (or just lightweight if you are like me – black clothes ALL THE WAY!). Clothing made from materials that are flowing and thin will help relieve the obvious warmth and sweating. Nobody likes sweat stains on their clothing, so be aware.
As a leasing consultant, we find ourselves walking A LOT. As fellow blogger, Joelle Salviati pointed out in an earlier blog post, we ALL have to deal with sweat and grime throughout the day. No matter what, there is no denying this. The key to this (aside from making sure you have baby powder or some kind of scent-killer in your shoes) is wearing shoes that allow your feet to breathe. Many shoe companies such as Adidas, Nike and Geox are making a lighter more durable shoe that allows the foot to feel air. Try these and see if they help.
Ever heard of “cool foods” (not cool like “yeah!” but cool like “brrrrrrr”)? Well, cool foods are foods that have nutrients that allow the body to feel cooler. Example of such: fruit. Avoid fast foods because they make the body feel “heavier” thus allowing for more sweat.
Large fans and pocket fans also help. If you have an enclosed office space, feel free to set up a fan to blow air into your general direction. Not everyone has the ability to turn the A/C on cold, so use this simple alternative to help you stay cool. If you work on a property or have a job where you spend time outdoors and have direct contact with the heat, try the mini battery operated pocket fans. They are easy to hide and they dont draw much attention if you work in the customer facing field.
Ok, so I hope that our next item is something that everyone already knows about: deodorant. Bring a deodorant spray bottle or stick with you. Keep it in your purse. Keep it in your desk drawer. Please just keep it! Summers are the worst time for body odor. Make sure you keep it under control by taking the occasional “bathroom break”.
If you wear make-up, please take some time to consider the type of make-up you will wear. Make-up with an oil base will melt right off of your face. This can make for a pretty rough situation. Not only are you covered in a clay-like substance, but it is embarassing. No one wants to lose face (seriously) in front of colleagues or customers. Would make for a funny story, but really, when you think about it – not so funny.
Summertime can be a wonderful time. I encourage everyone to enjoy it. Utilizing these tips will help you do so.
