It’s Sunday. The kind of Sunday where everything feels slower, softer, and slightly dreamlike, except for the heat. It’s almost Christmas, but Cape Town is doing what Cape Town does best: serving full summer energy. The sun is out, the air is heavy, and even doing the bare minimum feels like a lot.
Today feels like one of those days that isn’t asking for productivity or plans. It’s asking for rest, cold drinks, open windows, and permission to move at half speed. A day where the goal is simply to feel comfortable and a little bit present, even when the temperature says otherwise.
When the heat hits like this, I’ve learned to stop fighting it and start working with it. Here are three simple, realistic ways to keep cool during a Cape Town summer, especially on days like today.
1. Change the pace, not the plan.
On hot days, everything feels harder because we’re trying to move at normal speed in abnormal weather. Instead of pushing through, slow the tempo. Stretch things out. Sit down more often. Do less, but do it gently. Even simple things like slower mornings, longer breaks, or postponing non-urgent plans can make the heat feel more manageable.
2. Cool your body, not just the room.
Fans and aircon help, but cooling yourself directly works faster. Cold showers, rinsing your wrists with cold water, keeping a chilled face mist in the fridge, or placing a cold cloth on the back of your neck can instantly bring relief. It’s small, but it makes a difference, especially when the air feels thick and unmoving.
3. Eat and drink like it’s summer.
Heavy meals in this heat are a no. Think light, hydrating, and easy: fruit, smoothies, salads, iced teas, and plenty of water. Even switching to colder drinks or adding ice to everything can help regulate your body temperature. Sometimes staying cool is less about doing more and more about not overloading yourself.
Days like today aren’t meant to be maximized. They’re meant to be felt, slowly, imperfectly, and with a bit of grace. It’s Sunday. It’s hot. Christmas is close. And if all you do today is stay cool and take it easy, that’s more than enough.
the ward method 