In the summertime you can stretch right up and touch the sky

Nothing says ‘I’m leaving my stress behind’ quite like a beach.

There’s a little something for everyone within the surreal and sandy landscape, lulled by the sound of the waves.

That said, if you don’t know how to stay cool on the beach, not all of those ‘some things’ are ideal.

Staying cool on the beach is a simple matter of strategy.

Start with shade, hydrate the body on the inside and out, know your pulse points, and don’t forget or underutilize your cooler.

As with many things in life, the little things truly matter!

Today we’re going to elaborate on these points so that your next session of ‘fun in the sun will hopefully be sunburn and stress-free.

Let’s talk about beating the heat on the beach!

The shade is your friend

Foremost, it’s a good idea to get to the beach early so you can scout in advance for a good, shady place to make your ‘base camp.’

Depending on where you are in the world, there might be palms or other trees that offer a bit of natural shade.

Or you might rent a spot with a broad umbrella so that you won’t be starting the day in the harsh, direct sunlight.

While it feels perfectly safe in the morning, the problem is that the waves’ comfort and hypnotic sound can lull you right to sleep, and you might wake up red as a lobster!

Just remember that shadows will be the longest when the sun may be seen close to the horizon and the shortest when it’s right overhead.

Add in that the shadows will fall away from the sun itself, and you should be able to adjust and manage your shade accordingly throughout the day.

Stay, Hydrated, consider a Misting fan

Dehydration makes you more vulnerable to heat and light.

While Mai Tai’s, sipped from a coconut shell, is an idea, you’d do well to pack some water in your cooler and sip at it throughout the day.

It is ideal for putting it in a large, insulated container with a plastic straw.

As long as it’s not too big to hold in your hand, you can take quick sips of water now and again to stay hydrated and even press the cool container against you when you feel like a delightful quick chill on that warm beach.

A misting fan is worth its weight in gold when it’s hot out, and if your cooler holds a lot of ice, you won’t even need a costly mister.

Don’t just fill it with water, either.

You should add a little ice so that you are not only getting mist but supercool mist whenever you feel like cooling down in style.

Know When It’s Time To Go

Even though you are at the beach in the first place to get AWAY from a set schedule, it’s a good idea to keep track of the time so that you don’t overdo it or risk the classic error of falling asleep letting the sun have its way with you.

Your cellphone offers a modern and free approach to scheduling your sun, so to take advantage.

Click the ‘clock’ icon on your Android or iPhone, select the tab that says ‘alarm,’ and click the + button to set one or more alarms, as you like.

If you are sunbathing, for instance, you can set an alarm that tells you when to turn over and ultimately when to leave to control your sun exposure.

If you are on vacation for a while, you can set up ‘beach time’ in increments, with your first visits lasting 2 -3 hours and extended stays coming later, once you’re already tanned-up and resistant.

If you’ve ever had a sunburn ruin your vacation, this little tip is well worth your while!

Pulse Points Cool You Faster

Pulse points are your best friend at the beach.

Suppose you place something cold, like a thin-cloth wrapped icepack, on a pulse point, then it cools the blood, lowering your body temperature instantly.

The funny thing is that people always remember pulse points when working outside but always forget them at the beach.

Try a brief experiment when you have a moment, and you can see how effective pulse points are. First, here are the points that you need to know about:

The back of your neck

• Just below your inner-wrist
• Your temples
• Behind your elbows and your knees
• Your inner thigh
• The top portions of your feet

Now, start trying to cool one or more of these locations with an icepack or just a plastic bag filled with ice and wrapped in a thin layer of cloth.

Just give it a minute for each, and you’ll feel the results.

The only caveat to this trick is that you only want to do it for a few minutes.

You need a cloth barrier – direct exposure to the ice is harmful, so be sure to keep it safe and stick to only a few minutes at a time, and when you need to cool off, you can accomplish it in mere minutes!

The Cooler Is A Vital Part Of A Good Day

Packing your cooler correctly can ensure that you have cold drinks for most of the day and other options for cooling yourself off when you need them.

Cubed ice is good, as is crushed ice, but a nice pro-tip is to freeze some enormous blocks in Tupperware the night before.

Those blocks won’t melt as quickly, and you’ll get a little more mileage out of your cooler.

Gel ice packs are also a godsend, and you can stick one in a medium-thick sock to give you a thin barrier from the cold to use on your pulse points or anywhere else that you like.

If you have a dog, bring an additional large towel or a few smaller clean ones.

And if your pup overheats, they can join you in the shade with a towel soaked in ice water from the cooler and placed on the back of their neck.

Finally, if you spend much time at the beach, invest in a cooler with quality insulation – the difference is night and day.

Some coolers, such as the Polar Bear Original Nylon 24-pack soft-cooler, will keep the contents cold for up to 24 hours.

And knowing with 100% surety that your drink will be cold is worth the investment.

Some last words on keeping your cool at the beach

Keeping cool at the beach is about more than just slathering yourself fin sunblock (but please don’t forget to do that!).

It’s all about scouting out and maintaining the shade, hydrating your insides and outsides, and knowing when it’s time to pack up and see the sights safely indoors.

If you cement the deal by taking advantage of your pulse points for quick, full-body cooling and pack your cooler like a pro.

With some luck, you’ll beat the heat, and your beach vacation will be glorious!