Hot town, summer in the city...
Last week I was in the Boston area visiting family, and like most of the nation it was bogged down in a nasty heat wave. And in just about three weeks I’ll be heading back with all of you as we converge on Boston during the hottest month of the year…a region that can also be very humid in the summertime.
I grew up in and around Sacramento, CA where dry, 100-degree-plus summer days weren’t unusual – and walking outside felt like stepping into a pre-heated oven. I also lived in South Florida for eight years; summer temperatures there were typically hot and really humid. Friends in Florida used to laugh when I said I could more easily handle Sacramento’s high temperatures because it was a dry heat, but it’s true. In Florida, on a hot day with high humidity, it feels like you’re in a perpetual steam bath because you’re sweating and the humidity keeps the sweat from evaporating.
Before you pack for the annual meeting, remember Boston too will likely be muggy. Here are a few tips to help you cope with steam-bath air, especially if you’re from an area where humidity levels are lower!
• Leave the polyester at home. Trust me on this. Particularly for any outdoor events or activities, bring lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes made of natural fabrics like silk, cotton, or linen. In humid climes, polyester acts like those old rubber exercise suits – you will be miserable.
• Drink lots of cool – not cold – fluids, regardless of your activity level, and drink more than your thirst might indicate. According to a CDC article on heat-related illness and its prevention, our bodies lose more fluids when it’s humid. CDC recommends avoiding liquids containing caffeine, alcohol, and large amounts of sugar as they intensify that effect. Although if you're like most everyone else, caffeine sure does help get you through those long convention days!
• Keep any physical exercise confined to your air-conditioned hotel room or gym. If you must run or walk outside, stick to morning or evening hours and shady areas; take plenty of water with you.
• Stay indoors during the heat of the day…between noon and 5:00 p.m. You can stroll the annual meeting’s exhibit hall, make business connections, and participate in great learning opportunities – all in air conditioned comfort!