Keep cool & carry on: How to work from home in a heatwave

Updated: 13th June 2023

Heat waves can be particularly challenging for those who work from home. One thing’s for sure - UK weather is unpredictable. One minute you’re wrapping up in blankets and wearing gloves to type on your keyboard without shivering, and the next you’re making that trip to the loft to dust down your fan to keep you cool as you work.

When it's hot outside, it can be difficult to stay focused and productive indoors. We share our tips when it comes to beating the heat when you’re working from home.

How to keep cool at work

1. Keep your curtains or blinds closed to keep out the sunlight, but by all means, keep the windows open behind them!

2. Create DIY air-con: place a bowl of ice cubes in front of your desk fan so it can waft extra cool air.

3. Go barefoot: don’t wear socks or slippers indoors - it’s the opposite of keeping your extremities (hands and toes!) covered in the winter!

4. Stay hydrated: hopefully this one’s a given, but keep sipping on water throughout the day to stay fresh. And you might want to avoid drinks that include caffeine when it’s hot.

5. Run your wrist pulse points under water - a simple tip, but can feel extra cooling on a hot, hot day! You could also use a peppermint oil to produce a cooling, tingling effect on your skin (be careful if you’re sensitive to essential oils, though).

6. Use a desk for your laptop, and not your lap, as you really won’t appreciate all your laptop heat directly warming up your skin. (See our pick of folding desks)

7. Start work earlier or much later if possible, so you can work outside of the sun’s hottest hours.

8. Turn off unused devices to try and reduce the amount of heat-generating items around you, like phone chargers or lights.

9. Avoid working outside despite how tempting this could be, as this is often quite unproductive in reality - thanks bugs, outdoor noises (car horns, neighbours…) and unbearable sun glare on your laptop screen.

10. Avoid eating meat as meat causes your body to use more energy to digest it. Instead, your lunch should be made up of super hydrating foods, but low energy-to-consume foods like a salad with cucumbers and lettuce.

11. Drink a hot drink. Hear us out on this one: a hot drink on a hot day raises your body temperature, which in turn causes you to sweat more. This will help your body cool down. Just don’t try this one at home if you’re on calls all day!

12. Try a hydrating mist to keep your face cool. Keep a hydrating spray by your desk and spritz as necessary to quickly refresh throughout the day, even on top of makeup. We love Sukin’s Original Hydrating Mist Toner for this very reason!
    
    

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I have to work in an office when it’s hot. Is there a legal requirement to keep the workplace cool?

If you’re unable to work from home this summer, then you might be wondering what your rights are when it comes to hot temperatures working in the office. Although there isn’t a set temperature that’s legally “too hot” to work in, the TUC (Trade Union Congress) advises the following:

“The TUC has called for a maximum temperature of 30°C (27°C for those doing strenuous work), so that employers and workers know when action must be taken. However even if the temperature is slightly below that, employers should still attempt to reduce temperatures if they get above 24°C and workers feel uncomfortable”

— The TUC, "Cool it! Reps guide on dealing with high temperatures in the workplace", 2018

The Health and Safety Executive state that the temperature in an indoor working space should be “reasonable” and that employers must:

• keep the temperature at a comfortable level

• provide clean and fresh air

If you feel this isn’t the case, speak to your manager about the situation.

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As you can see, there are luckily quite a few things you can do to keep cool while working from home indoors. investing in a few key products and testing these tips can make a big difference. Keep cool & carry on! ✌️

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