New to Humidity? Me, Too. Try This.

When I was just out of college, I moved from Arizona to take a great job at a law firm in Maryland. It was May, and I was excited to be out on my own for this first time in my life. My first order of business, of course, was to find a place to call home, and I spent hours combing through the Sun to find the gem of all Baltimore apartments. Long story short, I found my dream place, June came, then July.

Now, being from Tucson, I’m used to hot weather. In fact, I usually balk at triple-digit temperatures. Baltimore was a whole new ballgame for me, though. See, in Baltimore there’s this thing called humidity, and if you’re not used to it, you have some adjustments to make in your everyday routine. I figured it out pretty quickly, and I’m happy to share with you, dear reader, some of my tips and tricks to enduring the swampy New England air I’ve come to love:

1. Leave your polyester in the closet. You shouldn’t be wearing polyester, anyway. Summer is definitely not the time to try out new synthetics. Cotton will be your best friend, and make sure it’s nice, light, and breathable. Think linen.

2. Drink water all the time. The trick here is to drink before you’re thirsty. Also, if you’re out with friends enjoying a little nightlife, make sure you match your alcohol intake with the same amount of water. Just stay hydrated, whatever you do.

3. If your hair is long, pull it up and off your neck. I had long hair when I first moved, but I chopped it all off after only two months! I don’t know the science behind it, but exposing your neck works wonders for staying cool.

4. Consider baby powder. Okay, so this one is negotiable, but if you’ve ever had a heat rash, you won’t think twice about this. Shake a little baby powder in your nether regions and you’ll avoid the mess altogether. And get the unscented kind, unless you want to smell like a walking daycare center.

5. If you have allergies, take an antihistamine. Humidity and allergies are the worst combination ever! Humid weather can aggravate allergies, so taking an over the counter antihistamine will help a lot.

6. Don’t be afraid to sweat! I know it feels gross, but sweating is your body’s way of staying cool. And you should be more concerned if you stop sweating, which may be a first sign of heat exhaustion. And heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke. Not pretty.

7. Pack extra undies and t-shirts. This is my secret trick. I take the bus to work every day, and I carry a backpack with me. In mid August, when it feels like you could take a bite out of the air, I always arrive to work a sweaty mess. But I always have some extra underwear and t-shirt in my backpack, and I make a quick change in the bathroom before I start my day. It may sound excessive, but trust me, it’s helpful.

I hope these tips give you a few ideas about how to adjust to the humidity. With a little patience and an open mind, you might actually start to enjoy it like I do.