To ask how to keep cool without a fan?

[OverpricedFloorCushion]

I work in a small space. There is air con but it only reaches the front, public area of the building. There are no windows in our workspace and there is paper everywhere so a fan would just cause carnage.

It wouldnt be practical to put the paperwork away/ weight it down.

I can't suffer the heat any more. I am literally sweating at work, I feel grotty and smelly. I keep a cool drink to hand, hair tied back and periodically run my wrists under the cold tap.

We are all suffering, does anyone have any tips to keep our workspace a bit cooler and more bearable. We wear uniform so can't really change that but its not heavy/ particularly warm anyway.

We've been told to tilt the blinds to keep it darker and keep the windows closed so that it doesn't let the heat in. We've also been told that running cold water over yourself only helps temporarily because it encourages your body to heat up the 'cold' part, and not to freeze clothing because it introduces more heat when it melts...

Not so much what we should do, though, and I don't know if it's all accurate! I'm mainlining cold drinks.

Ice packs close to your body, ( wrapped and put on your lap or behind your back on a chair?). A damp, cold flannel or cloth on the back of your neck? A water mister so you can give yourself a spray? Fan yourself with all that paper, (pleat it like we used to at primary school)

If it really is too hot - work from home?

Sweating is probably the best strategy, the evaporative cooling effect is real. Keep drinking cold water so your body can continue to sweat. A spray bottle that produces mist that you can spray onto your skin will also help. A small personal fan (one of those dinky hand held ones with a stand) that can accelerate the evaporation without disturbing the paperwork may also help.

Would a neck-cooling wrap or bandana be allowed? Chilling your neck can make a dramatic difference in how you feel all over.

Fill a hot water bottle with chilled water, or even better - freeze one overnight for tomorrow.
Suggest to the boss that you pop out and get ice pops for the whole office (our office was busy but never too busy for someone to do this, thank goodness!)

Keep your windows and curtains closed in the day
If you have a spray bottle, keep it in the fridge and spitz yourself
If you have a hot water bottle, put it in the freezer and then take it to bed!
Lots of cool iced drinks
damp towel around your feet at bed time
Sheets and pillowcases in the freezer

My husband is from Australia haha

Butters83 did you read the post? This is for her workplace

Do you have a computer? Meaco do a really good usb powered fan.

Sorry, just read about the paperwork. You could try having a fan under your desk so at least your legs and feet are cool.

I use 4inch usb powered fans at work. They are so small they don’t affect paperwork but make a surprising difference to how comfortable the heat feels. I use two - one either side of me - next to my keyboard.

I was going to make suggestions that have already been made!

I work for a solicitor so we have a lot of paperwork. We have individual 4" usb fans. I have also put a fan under my desk in the past.

obviously i skim read it - why does it matter? still lots of tips you an use at work!

Thanks for correcting me though, hope it made you feel better?

Bucket/basin of cold water to put your feet in under your desk.

A Small hand held fan for your face - got one yesterday in Aldi for £1.49
Cool pack for the back of your neck. I work in a bakery/coffee shop with crap aircon, hot ovens, hot plates etc. We soak 'blue roll' in cold water and put it on the back of our necks so you could improve with paper towels or similar - will obviously have to be changed more often than a pad

Fan under your desk will help and not affect paperwork.

Do you have any ice packs? The camping ones? I would be bringing those in everyday to cool myself down and refreeze at night.

How big is the space? If it is quite small you should be able to cool it down by having bowls of ice/ice packs around. Get everyone to bring them in. Not too practical if it is a big space though.

Little spritz bottle with water, plain water or put it in freezer or fridge.

John Lewis do a powerful hand held fan that keeps things cool without affecting paperwork.

Sit on a pet cooling mat. Couple of quid from cheap shops.

Keep dampening your hair down, the evaporation will cool you.

hula008
Butters83 did you read the post? This is for her workplace

Why so rude, the poster was only trying to help

I found the tips helpful even if not all totally relevant to the OP

I melt into a puddle.

If you can, do the frozen hot water bottle and just wear flip flops under your desk so you can rest your feet on it. Have another or a cool face mask to go on the back of your neck.

I find these the most helpful when I’m so hot I want to die, which is mainly in summertime heat combined with migraine.

I've got a desktop fan on a low setting on my desk, nothing is blowing around.

Have it on but don't blast it.

Or get a personal usb fan from Amazon, they are literally a godsend.

Fan under desk, blinds down or curtain closed, lights off if you can manage it. Opinions vary o windows open vs closed, personally I find it cooler to have them open with blinds down.

Freeze a bottle of water and keep under your desk to roll your feet on.
Cold water on a paper towel etc, on back of neck or under armpits.
Hopefully it won't last much longer!

Oh, and have drinks at room temperature as much as possible- your body warms up to process ice cold drinks.