Spring Break
As the weather gets warmer, these tips will keep you cool
Liz Connelly
Issue date: 4/30/09 Section: Focus
As the warm weather approaches, more people start to hang out outside, the walk to class becomes more enjoyable and your dorm room becomes a sauna.
"I live in Charter Oak Apartments, so I was lucky enough to have air conditioning," said Amy MacPherson, a 6th-semester communications major. "But a ton of my friends who live in the dorms were complaining about how hot they were."
If you were not fortunate enough to have air conditioning the past few days, you know how awful it was not only to try and fall asleep, but then to wake up and first thing in the morning needed to take a cold shower.
But, there are ways to make the angst of a hot dorm room easier, and more enjoyable to live in.
Keep the air flowing
Without an air conditioner, it is hard to keep cold air flowing in the dorm, but there are ways to make the room a little cooler. Keep the windows open at all times. This will allow the cool breeze to filter in. Also, prop your door. This will give the air a place to go and the breeze will become stronger. If you have fans, keep them on. This will also greatly enhance the air flow which will keep your room colder.
"I have a window fan that I never turn off, it keeps the room pretty cool for the most part" said Timothy Rosol, a 6th-semester resource economics major.
Use water
Cold water is easily accessible and a great resource to use to cool yourself down. You can wet a towel and blot your face and the back of your neck. This will allow your body to take full advantage of the breeze coming into the room. You can also take a cold shower. It will give you the same effect as jumping into a pool. You will instantly feel relieved from the heat and you will come out refreshed and cooled off.
Sleep smart
Taking a cool shower before bed and sleeping with your wet hair will keep you cool while you fall asleep. If you are not a fan of wet hair, try spreading yourself out. In the winter, curling up in a ball allows you to retain your body heat, so spreading your body out will allow your body heat to circulate and will cool you off. "I use the tai chi meditation method I learned in high school," said Lauraisha Providence, a 6th-semester communications design major "I just stay perfectly still and breathe, it really works." If the taichi meditation technique is not your style, you can always use a sheet to keep you covered. It's light-weight and will not retain as much heat.
"I live in Charter Oak Apartments, so I was lucky enough to have air conditioning," said Amy MacPherson, a 6th-semester communications major. "But a ton of my friends who live in the dorms were complaining about how hot they were."
If you were not fortunate enough to have air conditioning the past few days, you know how awful it was not only to try and fall asleep, but then to wake up and first thing in the morning needed to take a cold shower.
But, there are ways to make the angst of a hot dorm room easier, and more enjoyable to live in.
Keep the air flowing
Without an air conditioner, it is hard to keep cold air flowing in the dorm, but there are ways to make the room a little cooler. Keep the windows open at all times. This will allow the cool breeze to filter in. Also, prop your door. This will give the air a place to go and the breeze will become stronger. If you have fans, keep them on. This will also greatly enhance the air flow which will keep your room colder.
"I have a window fan that I never turn off, it keeps the room pretty cool for the most part" said Timothy Rosol, a 6th-semester resource economics major.
Use water
Cold water is easily accessible and a great resource to use to cool yourself down. You can wet a towel and blot your face and the back of your neck. This will allow your body to take full advantage of the breeze coming into the room. You can also take a cold shower. It will give you the same effect as jumping into a pool. You will instantly feel relieved from the heat and you will come out refreshed and cooled off.
Sleep smart
Taking a cool shower before bed and sleeping with your wet hair will keep you cool while you fall asleep. If you are not a fan of wet hair, try spreading yourself out. In the winter, curling up in a ball allows you to retain your body heat, so spreading your body out will allow your body heat to circulate and will cool you off. "I use the tai chi meditation method I learned in high school," said Lauraisha Providence, a 6th-semester communications design major "I just stay perfectly still and breathe, it really works." If the taichi meditation technique is not your style, you can always use a sheet to keep you covered. It's light-weight and will not retain as much heat.
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