What do you do to keep cool and comfortable in the hot weather?

AuntyRach

I have been giving some tips to my family this last few days so thought I would share. Anyone from warmer climates have tried and tested methods? 

My suggestions:

Keep curtains and blinds closed in the day.
Find the coolest room (usually downstairs and north) and camp out there. 

Limit activity like house work to early morning.
Wet down patio areas etc to cool the air a bit if you are outside.
No going out between 11-4 unless in shade. 

If outside, loose fitting, breathable fabric which covers your skin is probably cooler than skimpy clothes and greasy sun cream.
Tepid showers (not cold) and leave hair wet for an instant cool feeling.
If that’s too much of a faff, then wipe face/arms with cool damp flannels and let evaporate off. 
Plenty of drinks. Limit coffee and alcohol. Tea is surprisingly refreshing. Drink enough to keep your ‘output’ clear (sorry - nurse in the house).

Give pets extra water (I also add water to wet food) and create snoozing areas in the cooler rooms. 

I’d love to hear your ideas...

punkdoc

NO HOUSE WORK

Water early in morning, or late at night.

Sit in the shade, with a multitude of cold drinks.

Instruct under gardener to do all the work.

If all else fails, soak self with hose pipe.

Hostafan1

position sun lounger in full sun and re orientate as needed. 

Nollie

Think you’ve got it pretty much covered there AuntyRach!

I would add, if possible:

Get up earlier to do your chores or do them in the cool of the evening
Have a siesta during the hottest part of the day - certainly don’t attempt to do any work that requires serious brain power at that time
Fling open the windows/shutters at night to cool interiors down

For plants, water deeply at the roots in the evening, if you use sprinklers, set the timer to do it in the middle of the night and move pots liable to overheat into the shade

Hostafan1

The conservatory was at 46C at 8pm last night. The bedlinen dried in less than an hour . Perfect

Ergates

We stick to the shade if going outside. Gardening will have to wait until it’s cooler, apart from watering, which can be done later in the evening. Our house is usually much cooler inside, so more comfortable to stay in when we can.
Have to confess to wearing a cotton kimono round the house, rather than getting properly dressed. I never seem to have many summer clothes, as for many English summers, I haven’t needed them! As AuntyRach says, loose floaty clothes rather than hot sticky t shirts and the like. Be careful though, I got badly sunburnt through a loose long sleeved cotton shirt one year.
We have had the fan on in the bedroom every night. Thankfully, it’s very quiet, even on the highest setting. 
I’m really not a hot weather person, so I try not to feel guilty that I’m not out enjoying the sun. It’s just not my thing though, I find 18C is a comfortable maximum.

Obelixx

For me here - 31C just now - it's strappy cotton jersey tops that don't cling and loose fitting cotton shorts and flip flops.  Sun cream applied before getting dressed.

It will be much hotter here between 2pm and will peak around 5pm so quiet pottering between those hours and stay in the shade.  heat here tends to be dry, not humid, so it's fine to work in as long as you take it easy and drink plenty of water but other than weeding, I wouldn't plant, sow or prune in this heat as it's bad for the plants.

Our house walls are very thick so it's still cool indoors at the mo and the sun too high to shine in but by mid August we'll have the shutters half down as things heat up. 

Fairygirl

I'm not likely to be from warmer climes here @AuntyRach , but for what it's worth - I walk earlier - before 7am depending on temp- before it gets too hot.
Then I mainly stay in unless I can do things in the shady parts of the garden, and even then, I come in regularly. I'm the same as @Ergates - around 18 is hot enough unless there's a good breeze.
Blinds/curtains shut over, depending on orientation,  and windows open. Lighter clothes - linen if possible.
Plenty of fluid - tea for me too, but also a cold drink now and then.

What is this 'housework' of which you speak?.....

Grannybee

I shut the windows too as there is a hot blast of wind coming in. Re-open in the evening. 

B3

I stay out of the sun and do nothing.

tui34

Agree with @punkdoc  especially about the housework!  

Slowly in the morning and not too fast in the evening.