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Heat in the office - tips & tricks for cooling down in summer

Ventilator kühlt auf höchster Stufe das Büro

Laura Hofstetter |

If people are supposed to achieve maximum performance in extreme heat, it often turns out to be impossible. At the latest when the thermometer in the office shows 25 °C or more, the concentration is gone. But what can be done about sweating at work?

  • Working in the office in the heat: increase humidity?
  • What can I do against heat in the office?
  • Heat in the office: How can I cool down?
  • What else helps against sweating in the office?
  • Heat in the office: Is there heat-free in the office?

Working in the office in the heat: increase humidity?

Most people know the supposedly good advice that says that wet towels should be hung up in dry heat. These increase the Humidity in the office and in every other room and ensure a few degrees cooler. That is also correct! What is not said, however, is that the higher humidity, which creates a certain level of humidity, puts a much greater strain on the human circulation.

Heat in the office and high humidity can be a problem, especially for people with previous illnesses, low blood pressure or for pregnant women. Those affected no longer just sweat, they now also have to contend with nausea and dizziness, and in the worst case, circulatory collapse. It should be clear that work is suffering even more due to the general malaise. Of course, the tip to increase the humidity may be good and correct, but it must be applied depending on the individual fitness and state of health of the person in question. Anyone who just sinks weakly into their office chair because their blood pressure is low will hardly be able to achieve the desired performance.

What can I do against heat in the office?

If you're looking for tips on how to cool down in the heat in the office, you've come to the right place! The following advice will help reduce the temperature by a few degrees and make working much more pleasant:

IN THE MORNING WHEN IT'S HOT IN THE OFFICE


In summer it is advisable to start the day as early as possible. As a rule, this is also possible wherever flexitime has been agreed. It is still cool in the morning, but ventilation can cool the office space by a few degrees. There is also time to complete tasks that require a high level of concentration. The real heat in the office is not yet there, the fresh morning air has an invigorating effect. After airing, the room should be darkened. Not too strong, it's just a matter of "blocking out" the sun. Daylight should still be allowed into the room, otherwise the combination of office heat and darkness can quickly become tiring.

JUST SWITCH OFF


This is certainly what everyone who has to sit in the office and work in the heat wants. But what is meant here are technical devices that are not currently needed. If these are switched off, they can no longer radiate heat, which has an additional effect and increases the temperature in the office.

USE TABLE FANS AND DEHUMIDIFIERS


The fan provides a pleasant draft and distributes the thick, heavy air throughout the room. It's easier to breathe deeply when heat turns the office into a sauna. Dehumidifiers, which should be used in hot and humid climates, are also very helpful. On days when the air is really bad, a dehumidifier helps and makes the office climate more pleasant again.

Heat in the office: How can I cool down?

The tips mentioned so far against heat in the workplace are intended to improve the air and the climate in the office itself. But you can also do something to cool yourself down. Diet in particular can influence temperature sensitivity and make working in the office in the heat more bearable. Drink consciously and significantly more than usual. Concentration suffers not only because it is too high Temperatures in the office , but also because of poor fluid balance. On hot days, the body loses a lot of fluid, which needs to be replenished through regular drinking. Fill a carafe with water and set a time limit until it is emptied! This helps everyone who likes to forget to drink.

In addition, when it's hot in the office, you should only eat lightly. Fruit and vegetables in particular, steamed at lunch, help to relieve the strain on the circulation and metabolism. In addition, it is less tiring when the body is not busy with strenuous digestion.

What else helps against sweating in the office?

Sweating in the office can be reduced not only through diet. If the heat continues to charge the office, further measures must be taken. Clothing should fit loosely and be made of cooling materials. Linen and silk are ideal summer materials. When it comes to clothing regulations at work, it often helps to talk to your supervisor, because when it's hot in the office, you should be allowed to change from a long-sleeved to a short business shirt. In addition, the heat in the workplace can be avoided if working hours are managed flexibly. Of course, this is not easily possible in industries with fixed opening hours and customer traffic. But the worst of the office heat can also be avoided by starting work an hour earlier in the morning. Maybe the boss agrees to do some things in the home office? Not every job really has to be done Desk be carried out in the office, because in many things the only thing that matters is the fact that the task is completed and not where it was completed. If you need tips on how to cool down in the heat in the office, you can also use relaxation exercises and should spend your breaks outdoors in the shade. Important: It makes sense to take more frequent (albeit shorter) breaks when it's hot in the office!

Heat in the office: Is there heat-free in the office?

Schools once had no heat. The outdoor pool called and from midday the students could go home. But is there also heat-free in the office? Unfortunately not, because the legislature assumes that adults are significantly more resilient than students. Sweating at work must be accepted with certain restrictions, even if the employer has a duty of care towards its employees. However, there are no clear values ​​for protecting employees in the workplace regulations, so it remains a matter of judgment as to how one reacts to heat in the office. However, older employees and pregnant women, as well as people who have to work outside, are particularly protected. The employer should do everything in the interest of the company's own success Well-being in the workplace to increase. This can also be done via matching Office furniture happen where ergonomics is particularly important.

Expert tip: office lighting

Dimmable light

The light in the office should adapt to the emotional needs of the employee, which is why various (LED) lamps and dimmable lamps with the right color temperature in addition to daylight are ideal. This results in higher performance and greater satisfaction at work.