We’re experiencing a hotter summer than normal, at least down here in southern Florida (although friends and colleagues around the country are telling me they’re feeling the heat too. There were even 120+ degree days in Phoenix in late June!)
As many people are traveling all over the country for a variety of reasons, especially from not-so-hot places to very-hot places, it’s harder to survive and maintain a sense of style without getting sweaty and rumpled. So here are some ways we do things in southern Florida to survive the heat, and these might help you on your business travels.
- Adjust your schedule. If you travel by car to meet clients, arrange for early morning meetings so that you can arrive the night before or drive in the pre-dawn hours when the sun is not baking the highway. And don’t forget to use sunshades once you’ve stopped. They may not seem important up north, but here in Florida, you can really cook your car without them. Remember, you may be transporting your meeting partners to lunch, and nobody wants to ride in a hot car.
- Invest in lightweight clothing. Even business attire has seasons and — at least for men — purchasing a suit in linen, cotton, seersucker, chambray, or fresco wool will help you arrive at your meeting looking fresh, not wilted. Don’t sit, either in a car or on a plane, in your suit jacket. Hang it on a hanger in the backseat or stow it in the overhead bin so that it isn’t wrinkled when you’re trying to make that crucial first impression. Consider rotating out your cotton undergarments and socks for those made with lightweight wicking fabrics. You can find them on websites that sell athletic gear and travel clothing.
- Drink water. You knew that would be on the list, didn’t you? Did you know that choosing water over other beverages actually assists in lowering your body temperature in ways soft drinks, coffee (even iced), and alcohol can’t? Packing a cooler with water bottles if you drive, or stowing an empty water bottle in your backpack that you can fill at the office water fountain will allow you to grab and go and not pay more than you need to at a convenience store.
- Purchase a small fan that can move the air around while you’re sitting at your desk. Electronics such as laptops and towers and even overhead lighting emit heat. Keeping the air circulating will help you stay focused on the tasks at hand, not the environment.
- Make wise food choices. While eating hot, spicy food is a method for surviving soaring temperatures in some parts of the world, it works because it encourages perspiring. Not something you want to be doing when entertaining clients at dinner! Lighter fare is easier to digest and leaves you feeling less sluggish.
Doing some advance planning and making good choices will allow you thrive this summer’s business travels. What’s your favorite way to stay cool in the summer? Leave us a comment and share your secret! You can do it on our Facebook page, or in our Twitter stream.
Photo credit: rogeriomda (Pixabay, Creative Commons 0, Public Domain)