Summer Blues

I LOVE the winter. Although the water works trouble me, and despite being born in the Tarai, I don’t prefer the summer at all. Now that the winter has ended, the temperature is increasing and summer is on its way. Ice cream and cold drinks can only get rid of the heat for a short time but there will always be a long time ahead.

One thing everyone must focus on during the summer is to drink plenty of water as the sweat excreted by our bodies needs to be recovered. Thus, plenty of water is extremely necessary. Try avoiding long walks during this season, because although the distance you walk in the winter might be the same, you’ll feel lazier and more tired. Energy drinks can certainly play important role in re-energising your body, so keep an energy drink handy. 

Saturdays can be spent at swimming pools or parks. Visit a nearby park and revel in the freshness. Most of us are lazy about opening the windows of our rooms, despite knowing that air passes from one to another. So make sure to open the windows and let the air move, making your room its passage as that will help keep you cool. And this breeze can provide better cool air than a rotating fan.

 Also, try avoiding stale and junk food as this is the time when diseases are rampant. Instead of spending on fast hot food, try fruit juices from local juice shops as they help keep your body fresh and alert. Mosquitœs, which can overwhelm in the summer, play an important role in making you ill. So try to avoid mosquitœs as much as possible with the use of netting and insect repellants. If you are from the Tarai, you must be aware of the fact that the summer is also prime snake season. Parents should stay concerned about their children and limit their outdoor sports in unknown regions and instead, encourage indoor games.

 In schools, students are lined up for long in hot, humid areas in the name of assemblies. So try to find a spot in the shade. Also, opt for cool cotton clothes in light hues instead of dark colours. Loose half pants are better than tight jeans. If you are exposing your skin to the elements, you should probably also use sunblock and other kinds of cream. Staying home with bottle of water and watching movies or reading a novel would not be a bad alternative to going out in the hot sun. Make sure that this summer is a safe one. 

Published in The Kathmandu Post dated March 26, 2013