Keeping Cool in the Texas Summer heat at First Monday Trade Days

Another First Monday Trade Days has finished up June 2007 First Monday Trade Days has happened. Though marred by rain it was still a good weekend for all. The rain unfortunately sometimes happens especially this time of year. But the crowds still show up! Yes rain may make you find cover for a few minutes. It can never dampen the shopping spirits of the hundreds of thousands of visitors to First Monday Trade Days. The next few months are the hot part of the year so remember to Keep Cool! 9 Tips for keeping cool in the Texas heat! 1. The most important factor to consider is hydration. Who hasn't heard: "Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day"? That's a great start, but if you're exercising or trying to lose weight, you need to drink more. Also, the more you weigh, the more water you need to consume to keep your body functioning properly. At first, it may seem difficult to consume the right amount of water, but your body will adjust and you will look and feel better when you consume the right amount of water. (And I do mean water, not sodas, tea, coffee, or other such beverages.) To see if you are getting enough water, check the color of your urine. It should be clear or a pale yellow. If it's dark, drink a pint (16 ounces) of water as soon as possible. 2. Wear sunglasses Your eyes are one of the most precious assets you have, and you need to protect them from the sun's harmful rays. Buy yourself a good pair of sunglasses that block out the sun's ultraviolet rays and then wear them. According to RealAge.com, wearing sunglasses also helps to prevent a certain kind of cataract. "Exposure to ultraviolet radiation may increase your risk of cortical cataracts, which typically affect the outer edge of the lens of the eye." However, if you are diligent about wearing sunglasses when outside, you will have "significantly less lens clouding from cortical cataracts than non-wearers of sunglasses" This is according to a recent study. Find out more about Ultraviolet Rays Dangers. 3. Wear head protection to protect yourself from the sun and keep your head and face cool. Whenever possible, I wear a hat during the very cold winter months and when it rains, but I find that during the summer a hat makes me hot. You can also try vented hats. 4. Wear Sun Block on all exposed areas. Wear a sun block with at least an SPF of 15, although the higher the protection, the better. If possible, apply the sun block 30 minutes before going outside. Don't let an overcast sky fool you into thinking you won't get sun exposure. Ultraviolet rays rain down upon you even through the clouds. Ultraviolet rays are what sunburn you and do the damage sunblocks protect you from. Though less intense on a cloudy day you still need to protect yourself from the ultraviolet rays. 5. Cover as much of your body as possible. I'm not saying you have to wear long pants or long sleeves, but exposing more skin also exposes you to more of the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays. Men, you might feel more comfortable with your shirt off, but leaving it on will protect you better from the sun. 6. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. I recommend special synthetic fabrics such as CoolMax and DriFit which wick away sweat and moisture from the skin. When I bought my first CoolMax shirt, I noticed the difference immediately. 7. In the summer, avoid strenous exercise during the middle of the day or early afternoon when the sun is the hottest. Early morning is the coolest part of the day. Even the early evening can be very hot. 8. Sometimes, when the early evening is extremely hot and humid. You may want to consider shopping inside the pavilions during the hottest parts of the day. Saving the open air lots and areas for the cooler mornings. 9. Rest. I know most people have no problem with this and would gladly use rest as an excuse for not extending themselves to much. I sometimes have days when I don't feel like getting up and getting out. On those days remember First Monday Trade Days has 4 days to shop. Don't try to see it all in one day, take your time, keep cool and enjoy all of The World Famous First Monday Trade Days in Canton Texas. Based on an article from Rachel Keller Writings used with permission. Author: Douglas Wolfe www.1stMonday.com Online Business Profile Wolfe Web Services