10 fun ways to stay cool in the summer heat

Me with my good friend Emily at the Sunflower Maze in Chaptico, MD

It may seem like summer is almost over, but if you live in Maryland or anywhere else in the southern United States, you know August can be the most brutally hot month of all.

If you are already finding yourself dreaming of cooler days, check out this list of 10 fun ways to stay cool from the relentless summer heat.

1. Take a dip in your local pool

Me at the pool

There’s nothing more refreshing than a nice dip in cool water! Visit your local pool, go to the beach, or even take a splash in a lake at a nearby park. It feels great & it’s normally free or relatively inexpensive.

2. Make fun iced summer cocktails (or mocktails)

Summer cocktails (Photo by Kaizen Nguyễn on Unsplash)

Who else loves summer cocktails? I love the bright citrusy flavors with punches from fresh herbs like mint & lavender.

Refresh yourself this season with delicious homemade iced cocktails or mocktails. You can find lots of healthy recipes to try here.

3. Make homemade popsicles

Raspberry popsicles (Photo by Daniel Öberg on Unsplash)

Popsicles are my daily treat in the summer time. I have one every morning after my run to cool off, & often every evening as well after a long day spent in the heat. There are lots of healthy options on the market now, or you can make your own! You can find some delicious & healthy popsicle recipes here.

4. Try a new indoor hobby

Me reading Change of Heart by one of my favorite authors, Jodi Picoult

If it’s too hot to go outside, consider finding new fun hobbies to enjoy indoors! Read a new book, binge watch a show, try a craft, do yoga – the possibilities are endless! You can’t beat air conditioned fun in the summer.

5. Stay Hydrated

Stay hydrated with Hydrate from Coffee Over Cardio! Click here & use promo code 10TYLERVLAYNE for 10% off

Drink your water! When you’re spending time in the heat, it’s more important than ever to keep your body hydrated. This will not only help you avoid heat exhaustion, but it will also keep you sweating, which is a good thing! Your sweat helps to keep your body cool. If you’re struggling to get in enough liquids, or if you are spending active or extended periods of time outdoors, consider adding electrolytes to your drink. Electrolytes help to replace the other nutrients you are losing in your sweat, including magnesium, sodium & potassium.

If you haven’t tried it yet, Coffee Over Cardio makes a delicious electrolyte option called Hydrate, & right now, you can get 10% off with promo code 10TYLERVLAYNE. Click here to shop.

6. Make a yummy smoothie for breakfast

Smoothie bowls (Photo by Bakd&Raw by Karolin Baitinger on Unsplash)

Start your day off right with a delicious & healthy smoothie that will help you cool down from any early morning activities outdoors. Add fresh fruits & vegetables, nut & seed butters, granola, or any of your favorite ingredients, & enjoy in a bowl in on-the-go in your smoothie cup. You can find lots of healthy smoothie recipes here.

7. Eat light meals with fresh ingredients

Easy & healthy summer salad – get the recipe here

Leaving your oven off is a great way to keep your house cool! And eating meals made with fresh fruits & vegetables is an easy way to keep your body cool as well. This summer salad recipe is a great seasonal option for a filling & delicious summer meal. You can find the recipe here.

8. Stay cool with this portable fan that looks like headphones

JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan

I have to thank my good friend Emma Cathy for this tip. If you have to venture outdoors, this portable fan is a life saver! It looks just like a pair of headphones, so you can take it anywhere. And it blows cold, refreshing air on your face & neck! Buy it 30% off on Amazon now.

9. Dress for the weather

Me picking sunflowers at the Sunflower Maze in Chaptico, MD

This is the season to break out your flowy sundresses & brightly colored tops. Choose lightly colored fabrics & loose, baggy clothing to help keep your body cool. If you are exercising outdoors, remember to bring a change of clothes & a towel to dry off afterwards to help avoid chafing.

10. Tailor your self-care routine for the season

Me using the Aceology Ice Globe Facial Massagers

Your self-care routine should evolve with the seasons. In the summer, use products to help brighten & cool your skin, stay hydrated, move your body in ways that you find fun, & make time for rest & relaxation. The Aceology Ice Globe Facial Massagers are one of my favorite products to incorporate in my summer self-care routine. They are naturally cooling, & they help to reduce redness & stimulate blood circulation & oxygenation to the skin!

What is your favorite way to stay cool in the summer? Let me know in the comments below!

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15 songs I listened to on repeat this summer

The summer is almost over, which means it’s nearly time for cozy sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes. It also means that the music scene is about to change from carefree beats to more sentimental tunes.

However, there are a few more warm days left. So, until the leaves start to change, I am going to keep listening to my summer vibe playlist, and I thought I would share it with you to enjoy, too. I have to warn you now: not all the songs are upbeat, but they make up the soundtrack of my summer of 2020.

I hope you enjoy it! Please feel free to share your favorite summer vibe songs in the comment below – I would love to add them to my listening queue.

Summer Vibes Playlist

1. Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles

I can’t go more than a few days of summer without listening to this classic goodie. Yes, finally, the summer is here, and the sun is out. It’s time to slow down and just enjoy life a little more. 

2. The 1 by Taylor Swift (E)

Aptly named as the first song in her surprise new album, The 1 by Taylor Swift is the perfect introduction to an album with a completely different vibe than the artist’s previous works. It’s a bittersweet, regretful, lost love song that I can’t stop listening to.

3. Sleep on the Floor by The Lumineers

Me and my team at the Fred and Pamela Buffet Cancer Center in Nebraska during 4K for Cancer 2019

Something that characterized this summer for me was travel and adventure. I have always wanted to travel, but have never had the means or the time. This summer, I finally had the chance to explore the world outside of my comfort zone, and it was even better than I had expected. This song by The Lumineers is my favorite song to listen to while traveling. It was introduced to me by one of my teammates on 4K for Cancer in summer of 2019, and I can’t help but have joyful tears come to my eyes when I listen to it and think back to that crazy adventure.

4. Be Kind by Halsey and Marshmello

Halsey has been one of my favorite artists since she started creating music. Her lyrics are always pure poetry. This collaboration with Marshmello is an upbeat song with a deeper meaning that touches on how we tend to hurt the ones who love us best.

5. Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen

It doesn’t matter the time of year or what I have planned for the day – this is always my favorite song to start my day with. It’s the song that always pumps me up and helps me feel ready for my day. 

6 Wishing Well by Juice WRLD (E)

Juice WRLD passed away in December of last year due to an accidental overdose. However, his music has still continued to be released since then, and some of the songs, like this one, reveal just how much the young rapper was struggling. It’s an eye-opening song about depression and addiction set to a deceptively cheery beat. 

7. Thunder by Imagine Dragons

In addition to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, this is the other tune I always turn to for a little motivation. It featured frequently on my summer queue this year as I struggled with unemployment and began to explore my passions more.

8. It’s Hard to be Human by Kina Grannis

This truly was the vibe of 2020, wasn’t it? It’s hard to be human, but luckily, it’s an experience we all can understand and empathize with. We’re all in this together.

9. I’m Alive (Life Sounds Like) by Michael Franti and Spearhead

The proposal 7/14/20 – Photo by Jon Mauler

I got engaged this summer! I can’t say too much about this song – stay tuned to the blog for more sneak peaks and details about Joseph’s and my 2021 wedding. This is just a little taste.

10. Reckless Love/Even If by Mass Anthem

“Even If” by MercyMe will always be the Christian song that touches my heart most. It was the song that changed my life. “Reckless Love” by Cory Asbury was the song I sang throughout my college years with my friends when we worshipped at Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU) club meetings. The combination of the two creates a song that never fails to bring tears to my eyes. During the hard moments this summer, this was the song I listened to for solace and comfort.

11. Colorado by CHAPPY

The highlight of my summer (besides, of course, getting engaged) was the road trip to Colorado with my new fiancé. This song was the soundtrack of our trip.

12. Own Alone by Bahamas

This was a song Joseph introduced me to, and I just can’t help continuing to listen to it. It has such a unique sound and fun beat; it always makes me smile.

13. How Many Times by Marcus Foster

This song is a bit more chill than some of the others on this list. It’s the perfect summer vibe song for a lazy afternoon in the sun.

14. In the Colors by Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals

Joseph and me on the top of Mount Royal in Frisco, Colorado

This was Joseph’s and my summer vibe song. We listened to it quite a few times while spending time together in all the colors of summer. 

15. Yellow Lines by Brendan James

Here’s one more of my favorite travel songs because I really did spend much of this summer traveling, specifically road-tripping. Driving along those yellow lines, this was the song I listened to most. This summer, I embarked on many adventures, not just in the places that I went, but in the new, life-changing steps I took in my relationship and career. It was a summer filled with long roads that lead to endless possibilities. 

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