Five Unconventional Ways to Beat the Heat

TGIF. I'm so happy it's Friday. It's been one of those weeks that has just felt long. Not even bad really, just long. This week's Friday Five linkup looks towards the summer time. Summer time means sunshine, lollipops and rainbows everything that's wonderful is what I feel a-when we're together, brighter than a lucky penny... sorry, I broke out into song.

Summer time means heat, or at least here in Virginia it does. So we're going to look at how to beat that heat. Oh sure, we could talk about keeping the sweat back with a Bondi Band or keeping hydrated with Nuun, but where's the fun in that? Let's look at alternative methods to beat the heat. This week's topic is

Five (Unconventional) Ways to Beat the Heat

1. Get a job in a restaurant in the kitchen

But how can a job in a kitchen help me beat the heat, you ask. Well, I'll tell you. From my days as a short order cook I can tell you if you hang over a very large stove, ovens and a fryer long enough, that hot humid air will feel like a relief. The heat is no longer heat. You're welcome.

It also comes with an added job perk: access to a walk in freezer (varies by location). Need to cool down? Even if you've spent several hours in a Frosty the Snowman costume dancing and playing with little kids while Santa gets the easy chair up front, the walk in freezer can be your best friend. I may know this from experience. I may also have pictures of Frosty working behind the bar with a bottle of Captain Morgan. Just saying.

Already gainfully employed and don't want to leave your job to earn minimum wage next to the teenager working the fryer? Don't worry, I have you covered. 

2. Visit the equator for a week

Since we're talking ways to make the heat seem relatively cooler by comparison, and since you're so gainfully employed, why not take a vacation to the equator? Enjoy those scorching temperatures and humidity for a while, come back home and enjoy the just 90 degree temperatures. Ahhh... refreshing.

But you're only talking about methods that make me hotter to feel colder, you say. Do you just want to be cooler, therefore beating the heating?

3. Move to Alaska

Yes Alaska. Also acceptable: northern Canada or Siberia. Why Alaska you may ask? Well, let's just have a look at the average monthly temperatures for Anchorage, shall we? With the average high at a balmy 65°F in July, what better way to beat the heat than change the definition of "heat". You also get two added benefits: some beautiful scenery and late night running still in daylight. Just check out Kristen's adventures over on Run Away With Me for a little sampling of those two.

This is what Kristen sees on her runs.
Seriously, she took this picture.

Ok, ok. You don't want a new job, you don't want to take a tropical vacation and for some reason you don't want to move to Alaska. Fine, if you don't want to have any fun, I still have two more ways for you to beat the heat.

4. Swear off AC, wait several years

Will this work for me? Why wait years? Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?

Yes it will work, you need to be willing to play the long game, and not at all, they could be carried.

So, here's how it works. Give up all AC. Invest in some ceiling and oscillating fans, drive with your windows down and even find a way to not work in that cushy office with temperature control. Then wait. Or more specifically, live like this for a couple of summer and then bam! The heat won't bother you as much. You'll adjust to the normally unbearable heat, your blood will thin and you'll no longer think about needing to beat the heat. You will be the heat. After that, you can work on being the ball.

Still not satisfied? Well good thing this is the Friday Five and not the Friday Four, because I have one more option for you.

5. Hibernate until winter

It's simple really. Stock up, eat a bunch of ice cream and popsicles then take a nice several month long "nap" until it's winter and you emerge to the cooler temperatures. Hibernation works to avoid the winter cold, so why not do it in reverse? If you work it right, you can even look into a timeshare with a bear, then you don't even need to worry about having someone to wake you up. You and your bear buddy can help each other out. You scratch his back, he mauls yours. 

Linking Up

Looking for more ways to beat the heat? Maybe you want something a little more conventional (read: boring)? Well then why don't you hop on by to the link up and see what others are saying.

Check here for some links out to others sharing, starting with our three lovely hosts: Courtney @ Eat Pray Run, DC, Cynthia @ You Signed Up for What?! and Mar @ Mar on the Run. Check their blogs. I enjoy them and you may too. I will add some others, usually randomly, as I read them to share the love. Go visit and keep reading!

Our hosts:

Mar @ Mar on the Run

Courtney @ Eat Pray Run, DC

Cynthia @ You Signed Up for What?!

Some other good reads, pulled from the link up

Heather @ Divas Run for Bling

M @ RunEatWriteRun

Cristina @ Crazy Mama Runner