Everything Feels Harder in a Heatwave
- Suzie Booth
- 13 hours ago
- 4 min read
When temperatures soar, most of the advice we hear is practical. Things like...
Drink more water.
Stay in the shade.
Wear sunscreen.
Keep your home cool.
All important advice, most of it, let's face it, we already know.
But what we don't talk about enough is the impact heat can have on our mental and emotional wellbeing. Because if you've found yourself feeling more irritable, overwhelmed, emotional, exhausted or just 'not yourself' during this heatwave, you're not imagining it.
Heat affects far more than our physical comfort.
It affects our capacity to cope with normal life.
Why Does Heat Affect Us So Much?
Our brains and bodies are constantly working to maintain balance. When temperatures rise significantly, our bodies have to work much harder to keep us cool. That takes energy. Energy that would normally be available for concentration, patience, emotional regulation and decision-making.
This is why during periods of extreme heat you might notice that:
You lose patience more quickly
Small problems feel much bigger
You feel unusually emotional
You struggle to focus
You feel exhausted despite doing very little
You find it harder to sleep
Everyday tasks suddenly feel overwhelming
Many people assume something is wrong with them when this happens. In reality, it is often a perfectly understandable response to difficult conditions. We aren't robots.
The Pressure to Enjoy It
There is something else that often happens during a heatwave that we don't talk about enough.
The pressure to enjoy it.
In the UK especially, sunshine can feel like a rare treat. We spend so much of the year complaining about the rain that when the sun arrives there can be an expectation that we should be 'making the most of it'.
We should be outside.
We should be taking the children on adventures.
We should be meeting friends.
We should be having barbecues, picnics and making memories.
And if we're not enjoying it, there can be a surprising amount of guilt. The problem is that many people don't actually thrive in extreme heat. They feel sluggish. Overstimulated. Uncomfortable. Trapped.
They sleep badly, struggle to concentrate and find everyday tasks harder.
Yet when everyone around them is celebrating the weather, it can feel difficult to admit that you're counting down the days until it cools down. The truth is that enjoying sunshine and enjoying heat are not the same thing. You can appreciate blue skies and still find 30-degree (or 37 this week!) temperatures exhausting.
You can love summer and still struggle during a heatwave.
Both things can be true.
The Dread Nobody Talks About
So many of us feel a sense of dread during heatwaves because every day suddenly feels harder. The house is too hot. The children are restless. Nobody is sleeping properly. Normal routines disappear. Even simple tasks seem to require more effort.
And alongside all of that is that nagging feeling that you should be making the most of it.
You should be enjoying the sunshine.
You should be out doing something.
You should be creating memories.
When really, if you're honest, all you want to do is close the curtains, sit in front of a fan and wait for autumn.
There is nothing wrong with that. Not everybody comes alive in hot weather. For some people, heat feels energising. For others, it feels draining.
Parents Often Feel This Most
For parents, heatwaves can be particularly challenging. Children are often sleeping poorly. Outdoor activities become harder. Everyone feels uncomfortable. And many parents suddenly find themselves spending long days trying to keep bored, hot children occupied whilst feeling exhausted themselves.
It's no surprise that patience can wear thin.
It's no surprise that tensions rise.
It's no surprise that you find yourself counting down until bedtime.
What Helps?
1. Lower the Bar
This is not the week to expect peak performance from yourself.
Ask yourself:
"What is good enough for today?"
Maybe the house will be messier.
Perhaps dinner is simpler.
The children could have more screen time.
Possibly your to-do list waits?
Survival is good enough.
2. Stop Fighting Reality
A lot of our suffering comes from wishing things were different.
It's too hot. The children are grumpy. Nobody slept well. The house feels stuffy.
Instead of fighting these realities - acknowledge them.
This is hard. Of course it's hard. Acceptance doesn't make the heat disappear, but it reduces the emotional battle we have with it.
3. Prioritise Recovery
If your body is working harder than usual, your mind needs more recovery too.
So, rest where you can. Slow down where possible. Take breaks. Give yourself permission to do less.
Recovery is not laziness. It's a response to increased demand.
4. Remember It's Temporary
Heatwaves can feel endless when you're in the middle of them.
But they do pass.
The cooler evenings return. Windows open again. Sleep improves. Energy comes back.
If you're struggling, remind yourself that you're responding to a temporary challenge, not a permanent reality.
Be Gentle With Yourself
Perhaps the most important thing to remember during a heatwave is this:
Your capacity is allowed to change.
Being more tired, less productive, more emotional or less patient during extreme temperatures, is perfectly understandable. Sometimes coping well isn't about pushing through. Sometimes coping well is recognising that conditions are difficult and treating yourself with the same understanding you would offer anyone else.
If your greatest achievement today was simply getting through a hot, uncomfortable day, that is enough.
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