Right now I’m currently sat on my couch in a bikini, every window is open and I have both mine and my room-mates fans working overtime to keep me cool. It’s not working. You know what else isn’t working? My brain. And I’m not the only one.
As London hits 34 degrees in Britain’s fifth hottest day of all time, it seems we’ve all lost the ability to do anything but lie in bed in a dark room and a cold towel. ‘I have tried my best to work today but have felt utterly fatigued by the heat and am shocked at how prone and energy drained I am right now. Please tell me it’s not just me,’ journalist Poorna Bell tweeted.
What resulted what a conversation among hundreds, with the consensus being no, it’s not just you… we’re all failing to get anything done right now in this blistering heat. But why is it so hard to work when it’s hot outside? What is it about those few extra degrees that sends our brain into sleep mode?
‘On a simple level, heat waves negatively impacts our productivity by slowing our bodies down,’ explains environmental psychologist Lee Chambers. ‘It takes considerable energy to cool our bodies temperature. This makes it more challenging to both execute and complete the tasks we carry out on a daily basis.
‘As humans, we are amazing physiological specimens, and are able to become more efficient in lowering our core body temperature,’ he continued. ‘However, this adaptation of our sweat glands and our circulation does take a few days to really confer its benefit, leaving us feeling drained and unfocused especially during those first few days of heat. Additionally, it is also a cognitive attention grabber, as we start to think of the fact we are too hot, disconnect from our task, and then have to reattach again.’
So essentially, if you’re beating yourself up about your lack of productivity, don’t… our biology says we’re allowed to be lazy today. But if you do have a big task you simply can’t let nature get in the way of, don’t worry, Lee has some tips for you too.
‘Staying hydrated and eating nutritious meals are vital as we don’t want to be spiking our blood sugar or using large amount of energy on digestion,’ he advises. ‘We should really value our attention, ensuring we do cognitively challenging tasks early, and making sure we schedule breaks to disconnect from work.
Take a minute to breathe, rest your racing mind and be kind.
‘We still need to keep active at a lower intensity, so we still get our blood flowing which boosts our ability to concentrate and solve problems,’ Lee continues. ‘And with more flexible working, we may be able to work in a more staggered manner, having a nap in the afternoon to refresh our minds. Sleep is challenging when it’s warm but a good night’s sleep is the cornerstone of productivity, so ensure you get the best night’s sleep you can.
‘And finally, when we are feeling all hot and bothered, just take a minute to breathe, rest your racing mind and be kind, there is only ever one thing we need to truly do at any one time.’
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