Keeping Your Cool: Our Office Tips for Surviving Summer Heat

Working up a sweat in the office? Here’s how to stay cool in a heatwave and maximise your productivity.

Sweltering heat can make it hard to stay focused and get through the working day, even if you are lucky enough to work in an air conditioned office. As the UK enters its fourth heatwave of the Summer, we’ve put together a handy list of tips to help you stay cool, refreshed and productive in the office. 

As the UK is set to experience more heatwaves during the Summer months, it’s well worth taking a look at this list and thinking about how you can adapt your behaviour to help you sail through the day with ease. 

Wear light and breathable clothing

Every office will have its own dress code, but as temperatures soar, it’s essential to consider the types of fabrics you wear and whether they are doing their best to keep you cool. It’s best to avoid heavy fabrics like denim and corduroy, and instead, try to pick out anything made from linen, which is ultra-breathable; cotton, which is soft and versatile; and even lyocell, which is soft and silky to the touch. 

As the temperatures soar, opt for breathable fabrics to wear to the office that help you stay cool and comfortable all day long. If you don’t have anything suitable, take this as your excuse to go on a shopping spree. 

Stock up on cool drinks

Although some people swear by drinking hot tea and coffee to help them stay cool in the heat, nothing beats an ice cold drink during the Summer. We’d recommend stocking up your work fridge with Jimmy’s Iced Coffee cans, which are the perfect refreshing drink when it’s hot, or Coca Cola, for those who love a bit of fizz. Keep yourself refreshed with plenty of iced drinks available to keep you and the team cool, all Summer long. 

Invest in a desktop fan 

Even if you work in an office with air conditioning, sometimes even that isn’t enough! As temperatures peak to the mid 30s in some parts of the country, now is the perfect time to invest in a portable or desktop fan.

We’d recommend the Slingsby 9 Inch Desk Fan - which has an adjustable angle and two speed settings to keep you nice and cool. Designed for office use, one of these on your desk is a must to keep you cool throughout the sweltering temperatures. We have a huge range of Fans available in various sizes to keep your office cool throughout the warmer months. 

Don’t neglect fresh air

If there’s any opportunity to find some shade whilst you’re at work, don’t forget to take five minutes out of the day to take in some fresh air. Find a cool spot where there’s a breeze, and soak up the chance to forget about the workday for just five minutes. 

When working inside an office with fans and air conditioning, it’s always important to take a break and get some fresh air in the shade if you can, so you feel refreshed to go back and work. But if it is too hot and there's no sign of shade, it's probably best to just park yourself in front of a fan and blast your face. 

Hydrate, hydrate and repeat 

It’s easy to forget, but during hotter weather, you need to drink more water. This is because your body is working harder to cool itself, and more water is lost through sweat. Even if you are sitting at your desk all day, your body is still working hard to keep you cool - so it’s important to stay hydrated. 

An easy way to do this more is to keep a bottle of water on your desk as a constant reminder. This way, you can’t ignore it. Remember to drink water at least once every hour if you can, as it will help you stay hydrated, which will boost your productivity whilst at work. 

Staying cool and hydrated will help boost your productivity levels whilst at work, so don't let the heatwave temperatures get the best of you! Keep plenty of soft drinks, fans and air conditioning units handy to get you through the summer temperatures whilst in the office.