I can't tell if I should stay inside or just tough it out

[Necoblast]

I went outside for the first time in a week to transport dirt because the weather was finally mild enough to do so. Or so I thought. I had to go back inside after around only 10 minutes because I was having trouble breathing from how hot it was, I thought I was going to faint or something so I went back inside to lay down. Well turns out it's 40 degrees celcius, which wasn't too hot compared to the rest of the week.
I do not live in a desert or anything. We don't have a sprinkler or a hose. I do not know if I'm just being too soft or what. If I stayed inside every time there was a “heat warning” then the garden would be dead.
At least the lettuce doesn't care

Where in the UK (assuming that's where you live) was 40 degrees today?!!? It's been relatively mild where I live for the last few days. Haven't even had our overhead fans on.

It was not hot today. I had to put a sweatshirt on. Defo not 40 degrees more like 18

If you are struggling then you stay inside. You can water your lettuces etc in the evening when it's cooler. Where do you live though OP, as most of the UK is averaging in the 20s.

I am not in the uk

In this weather I only garden early in the morning or late in the evening.

Christ I could’nt garden in that.

we had 34 the other week and I was watering at about 11pm

Maybe water in the very early mornings, or go out with a torch and water at night.

I was about to say this, do your garden jobs at dusk/night in your bikini. Definitely not in 40d, you were surely warned not to do that. I bet the locals don't, follow their lead. 😊

I live in Mallorca so late 30s/early 40s is normal this time of year. I have a big garden and only water very late evening or very early morning. No one gardens in the middle of the day unless they are quite mad or a paid gardener. Why not just wait until the evening when it’s a lot cooler?

You shouldn’t be struggling to breathe in 40°. Are you unwell?

I was not watering the plants, I was shovelling dirt from one part of the yard to another part of the yard. Thank you for the advice to do it in morning. (I don't go outside at night because sometimes there are people who sleep outside at night in the lot next door and I don't want to wake them up)

Can you say where you live? I find it fascinating you have people that sleep outside - you're considerate not to disturb them.
Worst heat I ever felt was in Turkey in late July - it was a heatwave even in Turkey, and in the high 40s - around 48 degrees. I couldn't even venture outside - it was too much! We skulked inside the villa in the heat of the day, and went to the beach in the evening - or settled in an air conditioned restaurant. Truly unbelievable heat, def don't try to do hard physical work in it.

Canada but one of the rougher areas…
Thank you although I never really thought of doing it out of being considerate, it is just that if you wake them up they might try to yell or attack you :/
well this is awkward

But all Canadians are Very Nice People, they won’t yell at you or attack you 😆.

OP, you must know that even for people who are accustomed to very hot weather, trying to do strenuous physical work in 40 degree temps is ill advised.

In the UK, where it's "only" been mid 30s I water our veggie patch at 6am and again at 8pm. We can't use hose pipes so carrying 20 5 litre cans of water is strenuous enough for me in the heat.

I leave the heavy stuff until October.

Oh I see! I was imagining something more bohemian - people sleeping outside in the balmy night because it was so hot!
Because I was thinking of Turkey, I was remembering the groundskeeper for our villa, who everyday would siesta in the (large & lovely) grounds - he'd just stretch out and snooze in the shrubbery.