Rain, wind and storms. Despite June and July being two of the hottest Summer months, it seems that in 2024 the weather has been more unpredictable than ever. Because we're British, there's nothing we love to do more than talk about the weather. And it seems this year, we've had a better excuse than ever to get into the nitty gritty of it. In June and early July 2024- it seemed like Summer wasn't going to make an appearance this year. Constant rainfall, high winds and a lack of sunlight made for a cold and miserable Summer that simply didn't live up to our expectations. In our previous article, we talked about how 2024 might be the wettest Summer in a long time in the UK. However, it seems (as is usually the case) that the Summer weather hasn't disappeared completely but has, instead, simply arrived a bit later than usual.
Warm Weather Ahead for the UK
It's been a long time coming. We've had plenty of indications of what this Summer could bring with a few spontaneous heatwaves here and there, but there's denying that Summer 2024 has been a bit disappointing for the UK this year. At least; "so far." But as things turn the corner and the Summer holidays really kick off, we have to turn our attention to the hotter days and sleepless nights that the Summer brings.
Preparing Your Home for Hot Weather
During the hottest months, people tend to spend more time outdoors. Being out and about seems easier when the weather is warmer, especially this year. In 2024, we've all felt a little bit cooped up thanks to the unpredictability of the rain. Sure, we've had little bursts of bright, sunny skies all Summer long, but it hasn't been anywhere close to the usual Summers we've grown accustomed to. With that in mind, it's easy to see how so many people in the UK have seriously underestimated the sheer heat that we're now facing. Enjoyable at first, there are plenty of problems that a scorching hot Summer brings. From the more obvious issues such as the heat itself, general airlessness thanks to a lack of wind and hydration; all the way up to high pollen counts and insects whizzing about with impunity.
These may not seem like such big issues to some. Longer days, warmer weather? It seems like you can simply get more done in the Summer. And with more Vitamin D thanks to the sun, it can feel like Summer 2024 is ideal for your health, happiness and productivity. That being said, every day- every Summer time activity- every night all starts and ends in the same place as Winter, Spring and Autumn months. At home.
Making sure that your home is prepared for everything is the key to really making the most out of the Summer. As mentioned, the Summer brings amazing health benefits with it. Vitamin D from the sun prevents muscle pain, bone pain and is also massively beneficial for you mental health. Makes sense, right? Having good physical health also increases your mental health. Studies indicate that you can get ample Vitamin D from the sun from just 15-25 minutes out and about in the sun. The best part? You can never have "too much" Vitamin D.
All of this to say that the Summer months are a fantastic time to get out and about, but it's important not to neglect your home. Sure; when you're out enjoying the sun and the warm weather, the health benefits are extraordinary. Although what's true outdoors is very different to the standard of your home. In fact, the Summer actually brings with it a fair amount of things that are detrimental to your health. Suffer from allergies such as hay fever? The scalding hot days increase the likelihood of an allergic reaction due to high pollen counts. Struggling to sleep thanks to the stagnant air and heat? A lack of sleep is seriously detrimental for both your physical and mental health. For every great benefit of Summer, there's something to be wary of.
How Summer Affects Your Health
For the most part, the joys of Summer and the positive health benefits of Vitamin D vastly outweigh the negative effects of Summer on your health. Don't fall for any unnecessary fear-mongering. The seasons exist because they are beneficial for us and in the UK, we're incredibly fortunate to have fairly reliable weather (at least when it comes to variation.) But that doesn't mean that there are no negatives when it comes to hotter weather, stagnant air or brighter sunlight.
Sleep is, of course, the big one. Talking about the importance of sleep may not seem like the most exciting topic. We can delve deep into the sciences to relay the facts but really, we don't need to. Thanks to the internet, we've got so many voices all weighing in on the topic of sleep and (for the most part) it's almost universally agreed upon that sleep is one of the most important functions of our biology when it comes to regulating both physical and mental health.
Why do People Struggle to Sleep in Summer?
Really, there's a pretty straightforward answer here. People struggle to sleep because of the extremely hot weather within their bedrooms. This is especially true within the UK. You know the old joke that the UK only has drizzly, cold weather? Well, there is some truth to it. Historically, the UK's weather was colder for longer periods of the year meaning that UK homes (many of which are older than you may expect) are designed to keep heat in. Not ventilate heat effectively. But in the modern age of cars, wires, electronics and more, UK homes have more sources of heat than ever before. Despite this, UK homes have not moved on. All of this comes together to mean that, during the Summer, UK citizens are consistently taken by surprise during the hottest months of the year.
This is the root cause of the issue and a lack of sleep affects us all in different ways. Irritably, weakened immune system and aches and pains are commonplace within the UK during the Summer. With the temperatures rising in the UK this Summer 2024, there's a very good chance that this will only get worse. Thus it is vital that we start taking the necessary steps needed to help us get our sleeping pattern back on track.
One of the best ways to make a start is with a reliable and dependable cooling fan. A classic (and for good reason) when it comes to keeping cool when you're at home. A fan is designed to provide a cooling jet of air and some good air circulation within an indoor setting. However, if we're focusing on keeping cool whilst sleeping, then there's another factor we need to consider. Noise. A noisy fan is just as likely to keep you awake as the heat is and finding a quiet, cooling fan can be quite difficult. A classic chrome fan for example is absolutely unparalleled when it comes to generating nice, cool air when you're trying to sleep. But because they're designed for larger, less intimate spaces; a chrome fan might not be the best choice when you're just trying to relax and doze off because of the noise they create. Instead, something a little bit more suited to the task and the type of room is more applicable. And right now, during the sleepless UK summer, there's no better option than a foldable, portable, wireless, battery-powered fan.
Getting Rid of Bugs and Flies
From something that indirectly affects your health to something a bit more direct. Flies and other flying insects are a constant nuisance throughout the year. Able to nest in your home and strike at the most inopportune times, bugs may seem like just a harmless annoyance. Another thing to just simply ignore, maybe? The reality is unfortunately a little bit more complicated. Ever been woken up in the night thanks to a sudden spike of pain? Mosquitoes bite and wasps sting in the night because you're sleeping and are therefore easier to land on whilst in bed. Ever noticed that sicknesses tend to rise during the warmer months? That's because flies landing around your home have a tendency to spread disease.
So what can we do about it? Well, according to many statistics, the preferred solution for most UK home owners is to use aerosol fly repellent. Depending on the brand that you use though, this could be a very expensive way to get flies under control- especially in the Summer when flies are abundant. Going through cans of spray fly killer may seem like a good way to deal with the problem however, when you're at home in the Summer, the last thing you want to be doing is walking around your home, looking for flies to spray with an expensive aerosol that stinks out your home.
A New Type of Solution for Flying Insects
When it comes to keeping your home pest-free this Summer, then look no further than the wall mounted bug zapper. Flies don't tend to land on flat, upright surfaces like tables or countertops. Instead, walls are typically where flies tend to lurk (as is the same with most flying insects.) With a wall mounted bug zapper, not only will you be placing a bug zapping trap right in the heart of where flying insects are likely t land, but you're also guaranteed to start taking back your home from all sorts of flying pests. Whether that's mosquitoes and wasps at night, or pesky flies during the day. A wall mounted bug zapper is adept at drawing in those flying insects and humanely disposing of them all whilst you can relax in the comfort of your own home.
