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Original poster

Sorry... another heat one...WWYD?

15 replies

Rosiestraws · 17/07/2022 22:55

I can't decide if I should wfh or not tomorrow.

I live in a flat, only moved in fairly recently so not sure how it is in the height of summer, let alone this heatwave! It has certainly been pretty darn hot over the last few weeks or so on and off. But a fan has helped enough..

I can walk into work (25ish min walk) where it should be blissfully air conditioned. I work roughly 9.30-5.30 but could stay later. There have been issues with the air conditioning in the location of the office where I work (desk job) with it not cooling properly down for the first few hours of the day but still much better than outside and I could move to elsewhere in the building to work if needed. No issues I could tell in other areas.

I'm trying to weigh up the issues with walking to/ from work in this heat against the benefit of being in the air conditioned office all day rather than staying home. My flat is currently 26c ish and can't get it cooler!

I am worrying about the walk in the heat which sounds ridiculous now I say it. I'm healthy enough and usually walk to/ from work but I have recently (covid years!) health anxiety and worry about things like fainting- although this has not happened before. It would be 27-29c when going to work and assuming I leave at 6ish then likely to be 36c or so when walking home.

Grateful for opinions as I'm struggling to make a sensible choice and if i wait and see how hot it gets in my flat then if it does end up too hot I'm then faced with staying put or heading into work at the peak temp of the day

OP posts:
tunnocksreturns2019 · 17/07/2022 22:56

I’d definitely go in if I were you

NoToLandfill · 17/07/2022 22:56

Walk to work, but slowly!

tunnocksreturns2019 · 17/07/2022 22:57

Sadly I have no air con at work or home 🤦‍♀️

PrachtStück · 17/07/2022 22:59

I know this has been said a lot, but do you think people in hot countries never walk outside in the summer?

You’ll be fine. I’m from a very hot area in Spain and 36-38 during the day is standard, June to September. Wear a cap if you want, sunscreen, and take water with you to drink every 15 minutes or so. But of course you’ll be fine to walk for half an hour. It won’t be pleasant but you won’t faint.

We’re not even talking about indoors being built with the heat in mind etc. It’s just a walk, you’ll be fine. Millions of people do this daily in other countries.

That said, don’t dress like you would in 25 degree heat. Dress appropriately for 40 degrees. Cotton, very light fabric, short dress or shorts that are not actually attached to your skin. Sandals. Then take a cardi for your air conditioned office.

TheChosenTwo · 17/07/2022 23:02

Dress appropriately and walk to work! Honestly I think the headlines have sent people into some kind of weird state 😱

Sparklingbrook · 17/07/2022 23:07

Get a taxi there and back.

Original poster
Rosiestraws · 17/07/2022 23:10

PrachtStück · 17/07/2022 22:59

I know this has been said a lot, but do you think people in hot countries never walk outside in the summer?

You’ll be fine. I’m from a very hot area in Spain and 36-38 during the day is standard, June to September. Wear a cap if you want, sunscreen, and take water with you to drink every 15 minutes or so. But of course you’ll be fine to walk for half an hour. It won’t be pleasant but you won’t faint.

We’re not even talking about indoors being built with the heat in mind etc. It’s just a walk, you’ll be fine. Millions of people do this daily in other countries.

That said, don’t dress like you would in 25 degree heat. Dress appropriately for 40 degrees. Cotton, very light fabric, short dress or shorts that are not actually attached to your skin. Sandals. Then take a cardi for your air conditioned office.

Ah a hat/cap hadn't occurred to me. Silly really...ofc that'll help. And I'll aim to walk in the shade. Thanks for this sensible, rational advice. Tricky to know what to wear now but I'm guessing anyone who's in the office (we can choose to wfh or not) won't judge me for a less than appropriate summer outfit given the heat!

I agree with the poster who said about the media making it all so terrifying. I only developed anxiety during covid and now loads of things trigger it but the doom and gloom warnings are not helping with this!

Water bottle with ice water also sensible... I'm more worried about walking home at 36c or so but I guess I'll have cooled right down by then after having spent all day in the office so hopefully that'll be OK...

OP posts:
parietal · 17/07/2022 23:11

walk to work, wearing a sunhat. the early morning will be absolutely fine. late in the day might be hot but not impossible. stick to the shady side of the street if you can.

CornishTiger · 17/07/2022 23:15

Meanwhile there will be nurses, doctors , carers and plenty of other workers just getting on with it without air con.

Seriously I know it’s hot but this is ridiculous!

JustJeans · 17/07/2022 23:21

I have a similar commute. I'm going in early when it's cooler; my office is open from 7am. Then planning a cold shower and a nap after I get home, probably about 3pm.

elenacampana · 17/07/2022 23:24

PrachtStück · 17/07/2022 22:59

I know this has been said a lot, but do you think people in hot countries never walk outside in the summer?

You’ll be fine. I’m from a very hot area in Spain and 36-38 during the day is standard, June to September. Wear a cap if you want, sunscreen, and take water with you to drink every 15 minutes or so. But of course you’ll be fine to walk for half an hour. It won’t be pleasant but you won’t faint.

We’re not even talking about indoors being built with the heat in mind etc. It’s just a walk, you’ll be fine. Millions of people do this daily in other countries.

That said, don’t dress like you would in 25 degree heat. Dress appropriately for 40 degrees. Cotton, very light fabric, short dress or shorts that are not actually attached to your skin. Sandals. Then take a cardi for your air conditioned office.

Totally. I lived in Sevilla for a couple of years and we all managed to get to work and back without collapsing on a daily basis! A cerveza or two on the way home always helped 😂

RockandRollsuicide · 17/07/2022 23:25

Take an umbrella ☂️ to use as a parasol

Orangemoons · 17/07/2022 23:26

TheChosenTwo · 17/07/2022 23:02

Dress appropriately and walk to work! Honestly I think the headlines have sent people into some kind of weird state 😱

Yep!!

sunshineandsuddenshowers · 17/07/2022 23:27

Cycle. Or walk on the shady side of the road. It will be fine.

Whiskers4 · 18/07/2022 00:05

I'd go for air conditioning. DH works in an air conditioned office, has a 10-15 min walk to car and is always more refreshed than me after work.

I worked today, no air con or windows. I didn't really know what to do with myself. Tomorrow I've got my hat and am tempted to put an umbrella up as I'm doing a short day and will have to wk there and back at the hottest time.

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