Western Living Magazine
Off-the-Grid Living: Exploring the Island Cabin near Desolation Sound, B.C.
It’s Always Happy Hour at These 7 Homes with Built-in Bars
Great Spaces: Vancouver’s Wildlight Kitchen and Bar Is a Natural Beauty
3 Parisian Bistro-Inspired Comfort Food Recipes to Bring a Taste of Paris Home
Recipe: Confit Lamb With Roasted Eggplant and Baby Potatoes
Recipe: Sausage With Aligot
The Maui Resort That’s Banking on Your Thoughtfulness
Your Ultimate Travel Itinerary: Brooklyn Like a Local
The 2024 Spring Road Trip Destination You Won’t Want To Miss
Trending for 2024: Top 10 Stylish Furniture and Home Design Picks to Revitalize Your Space
How to achieve kitchen perfection: luxury appliance brand Fisher & Paykel shares all
Editors’ Picks: The Best Books We Read in 2023
How Do I Enter the WL Designers of the Year People’s Choice Awards?
Introducing the Winners of Our First Annual WL Design 25 Awards
WL Design 25 Winners 2024: White Out
Dont sweat it with these five tricks.
Sweltering hot weather is expected to continue into this week all across B.C. and Alberta with issued heat warnings and a high of 32 degrees in the forecast. Great for beach and cabin-time, less cool for getting some shut-eye. So what’s the best way for an eco-conscious, a/c-free sleeper to catch some Zs? Here are five DIY strategies to avoid insomnia this summer. (Photo Credit: Rafael Lodos, Unsplash)
Okay, can we say something crazy? Soak a pair of cotton socks in cold water, toss them in a plastic zip-lock bag, and chuck that bag into the freezer. There’s a method to the madness. Wait about half an hour, pull them out and pull them on your feet. The reason this odd trick works is because feet are one of the most crucial body parts when it comes to temperature regulation—when your feet are cool, so is the rest of you. (Photo Credit: iStock)
Second only to air-conditioners and cold showers, the fan is everyone’s best friend in the summer. If you have a whirling air blower handy, you can combine it with your after-shower towel to create a self-made air conditioner: simply place the towel over the face of the fan. It’s an elementary example of evaporative cooling, where heat from the hot air transfers to the water’s lower temperature, resulting in cooler air. Alternatively, you can also substitute with a bucket of ice in a shallow pan or bowl in front of the fan, which will generate a cooling mist as the ice melts. (Photo Credit: View Stock, Getty Images)
Rice isn’t just for eating and throwing at newlyweds: this cheap cupboard staple also has high temperature-absorbing properties that can help you stay cool on hot summer nights. Fill an old pillowcase with as much uncooked rice as necessary until fluffiness is to your liking, then securely sew up the open side. Set the pillowcase in the fridge for around half an hour or so before taking it out to use. The ch-illow will last you approximately 30 minutes, giving you plenty of time to nod off in the heat. Feel free to make mini cold compresses with old socks that can go into your bedsheets the same way, if cooling your head isn’t enough. (Photo Credit: Pexels)
If you’ve ever sucked on peppermint candy, you already know its chilling effect. The menthol in mint tricks nerve receptors in your brain into feeling cold and on hot summer days, that’s exactly what you need. Add some peppermint essential oil to your body wash or lotion to get an all-over cooling feel before bed. Opt for eucalyptus oil or a blend of spearmint and lemongrass if mint isn’t your thing. Make sure to dilute and mix the two ingredients well, to avoid tingling and irritating sensations in your skin. Refrain from applying anything on your face for the same reason. (Photo Credit: Daria Shevtsova, Pexels)
While it doesn’t seem ideal to sleep on the floor, there are cool benefits to laying low in the heat: hot air rises, leaving you surrounded by cooler air. And sleeping on the ground is actually better for our bodies—our spine realigns to its natural posture more easily, and sleeping on a firm and flat surface can help reduce back pain.
Are you over 18 years of age?