Our tips for making the most of your day in the summer months

Summer has officially arrived here, at the offices of Jacaranda Spain, in the Marina Alta, with temperatures in the mid thirties for the last few weeks and it is still June! If you have lived in Spain for more than a few years, you will know that there are some essential changes to make in the summer months to avoid allowing the heat to overwhelm you. 

I think we all agree that one of the main reasons for relocating to Spain is the weather. The seasons here are wonderful. Winter can be cold, but the sun shines most days. Spring and Autumn too, are heavenly! Even rainy spells don´t last long, with the occasional exception. Summer is hot with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees celsius.

While chatting recently with a newly fledged ex pat from Holland, I realised that, unless you have at least a few summers behind you, there are things that you just don´t think about. This particular friend told us that he was struggling with working in the afternoons. He had promised himself that, as he relocated to Spain to escape the rat race, he would not get up early and rush out to work again. This is absolutely understandable and not everyone is an early riser, BUT, there is a different way to look at it. Read on…

Our tips for navigating the summer heat:

-Change your timetable and daily routine. Rising early is the best way to get the most of your day BEFORE the midday sun. Get up and open all your doors and windows, make a coffee and go outside. If you rise at 7am (or, dare I say it, 6am?!), you have at least a few hours to get things done before they seem impossible. It is the ideal time to exercise, work in the garden or do some housework. You will feel energised and mentally prepared to handle the day. But first- take a moment to sit and enjoy your coffee and appreciate living in such a beautiful place! 

This is what my sunrise walk looked like at 6.30am today

• 

  - Siesta! This is a must if you have adjusted your getting up time. By 2pm you will be ready to lie down, with a fan on, and take a blissful 30 minute time out. 

  - Stay out of the sun between 3pm and 7pm. The sun is at it´s hottest and the UV rays most damaging. 

  - Open windows and doors early morning and late at night and let the air circulate. 11am is the time to close everything including blinds and curtains and keep the sun out. If you observe the native residents in summer, you will notice that the streets are empty all day. As soon as it cools down, they open up their houses and bring the furniture outside to sit, chat to their neighbours and eat dinner after 10pm.

  

  - Drink water and eat the right food. Seems obvious but most people do not drink nearly enough water! Around 3 litres a day is the recommended daily intake but if it is super hot you may need to up the ante! Eat salads and lots of fruit to hydrate and replenish vitamins and minerals that are lost when you sweat, eg oranges, cucumber, water melon.

  - Wear lightweight, loose fitting clothes. Garments that allow air to flow and dry easily when you sweat.

  - Invest in a really good fan. Essential if you don´t have air conditioning. 

   

When you live here on the Costa Blanca, the height of summer can be difficult. However, making some changes can be the difference between wishing the day away and enjoying the summer. The early walks are wonderful and there is a certain pleasure in getting all of your work and chores done, so that you can siesta and then find a comfortable spot in the shade with a good book. 

The team here at Jacaranda Spain would like to wish all of our friends and clients a very happy summer!