It is officially summer! While the media depicts California as a state with perfect sunshine and teens at the beach surfing or out camping on summer nights, the California Valley is not as pleasant during the summer. Now that it is officially summer, temperatures have risen up to 110 degrees, which puts people in bad moods and low energy levels. Since we cannot escape to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or Half Moon Bay every day, we have no choice but to get on with our lives and cope with it. Here are some tips for how to survive the summer heat:

1. Stay Hydrated

Starting with the most important and perhaps the most obvious tip: drink water! With all the heat, our bodies try to stay cool by sweating, which causes our bodies to lose water and electrolytes. By drinking more water during the heat, we are reducing the chances of getting sick from the sun. It is also a good idea to drink sports drinks, such as Gatorade, because the electrolytes in the drinks can help replace lost electrolytes in the body, which we need to avoid muscle cramps, dizziness, and headaches.

2. Wear Sunscreen!

While the sun helps our body synthesize Vitamin D, too much ultraviolet radiation from the sun can lead to melanoma, which is skin cancer. On a lesser scale, sunscreen can help reduce sunburn, which not only make you look like a tomato, but are extremely painful! However, wearing sunscreen in excessive can get in the way of our production of Vitamin D, leading to deficiency. Just make sure to use it in moderation.

3. Try to stay indoors in the afternoon

According to many sources, the hottest time of the day and when the sun is most harmful is from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M., which can vary by day. During these times, try to stay away from the sun, preferably in an air conditioned room!

4. Wear Light Clothing

It's that time of the year when all of us that love black clothing need to switch it out for more light clothing. It is advised to wear loose-fitting, cotton, light-colored clothing during Summer time. This is because darker colors absorb heat, while lighter colors reflect it. Looser clothing also makes you feel more relaxed and can prevent you from sweating excessively.

5. Wear sunglasses

Not only are sunglasses stylish, but they also protect our delicate eyes from the brightness of the sun! Once again, the suns UV rays are harmful to our eyes, just like our skin, and the American Optometric Association recommends sunglasses to avoid blurred or loss of vision.

6. Eat lighter, fresher meals

Sometimes the heat is so bad that all we feel like eating is ice cream and drinking water, however, it is also very important to eat well throughout the day. Try eating more fruit, such as watermelon and strawberries, eating more salads, and shrimp cocktails!

7. Avoid Caffeine

Yeah, I know this is a hard request for anyone, especially college students. However, caffeine has the effect of constricting blood vessels near the skin, which reduces the amount of heat the body can release. This makes it more likely for our bodies to dehydrate and get exhausted. This can lead to heatstroke, so if you need your daily coffee, try to limit it as much as possible.