The heat is on! If you’ve been able to manage without A/C so far, or if it breaks and you must go a few days without, there’s a few tips on how to make it through the rest of the summer:

Keep windows closed and the blinds drawn – if the air is hot outside and the sun is strong, this will keep things cooler inside your home.

Also, keep doors shut – if you primarily stay in one room, or if you only have an A/C unit in one room, when you run it, keep all other doors closed so the air stays in a concentrated area.

If you run a fan, create a cross breeze to push hot air out – you can even create your own air conditioner by putting a big bowl of ice in front of a fan!

Don’t use the oven – it’ll only create more heat in the room – try microwaving or cooking outside on particularly hot days.

Image Credit: tommaso79 / iStock / Getty Images Plus

We should be suspicious of TikTok remedies – but when an expert backs it up, you start to take notice.

Someone online claims you can cure migraine headaches by soaking your feet in hot water.

They say the hotter, the better – and a doctor in Maryland who specializes in acute and chronic pain agrees. The hot water dilates the blood vessels in your feet, pulling blood toward your legs and away from your head, which means after a few minutes, the pressure should alleviate and the pain dissipates.

Commenters say they’ve tried it and it works. But even if it’s not true – if you don’t make it too hot to burn yourself, there aren’t any side effects – except maybe making the soles of your feet feel better!

Image Credit: kzenon / iStock / Getty Images Plus

There is a lot of good to come from social media, but with the good comes the bad and you might find you need to take a break from it. Experts say we all should consider it.

Maintaining friendships and keeping informed are great benefits, but too much time online has been found to lead to depression, anxiety and stress and unhealthy relationships with social media platforms can form.

So how do you know if it’s the right time to take a break from social media?

• If you’re compulsively checking your phone, that’s probably sign #1. If it affects your job or family time, that’s a big problem.

• If you fall asleep feeling “off” or if you find you’re waking up worried about something you saw the night before, you might need to set up some boundaries.

• When real-life interactions suffering at the expense of getting wrapped up in online arguments, reassessing priorities may be in order.

• And if you’ve started viewing yourself negatively and comparing yourself to others online, a break may be in order.

The benefits or social media breaks can lead to new opportunities – picking up hobbies you’ve been interested in or practicing self-care, and less screen blue light can improve sleep and productivity.

Limiting your time online, getting outside, and saying no to notifications are an easy way to start rather than completely cutting yourself off. A good way to view things – think of social media like food consumption, and limit your digital calories.

Image Credit: KatarzynaBialasiewicz / iStock / Getty Images Plus

Most of us will have one back problem or another at least once in our lifetimes. Most back injuries come from strain or damage over time, but there are some tips you can follow now to avoid problems later.

Keep active and maintain a healthy diet and weight – carrying too much on your body will weigh down on your spine.

Maintain good posture – poor posture is caused by everything from stress, obesity, pregnancy, even shoes that are too tight! When sitting at your desk, keep your feet on the floor and avoid crossing your legs, and when laying down at night, make sure you lay on your back or side, not your stomach. And try to sleep on a mattress that’s not too soft to minimize any curve in your spine.

When lifting objects, life with your knees, and keep the object close to your body, and don’t twist when lifting.

And if you do have back pain, make sure you consult your doctor. But taking these steps can likely keep your back healthy for years to come!

Image Credit: Tom Merton / OJO Images

While we’ve got a nice stretch of weather upon us, if you spot someone running, it’s not unusual.

Unless, of course, you see them doing the newest health trend – running backwards!

Reverse running is a trend that’s been around for a while, but it’s starting to become more common. And there are some benefits.

It helps burn more calories – 20 to 30% more – than face forward running. And it’s even better for your knees because of the way your feet land, the pounding on your knees is lessened.

However, there’s negatives – it’s far easier to trip and fall, and you’ll look kind of foolish.

But if you can past that, it may be the next best way to keep in shape!

Image Credit: doble-d / iStock / Getty Images Plus