Cool Tips for Hot Times

At 3 p.m. on Tuesday, the temperature in New York City was 101 degrees.

Image: Sean Driscoll

We'd like nothing more than to say "baby, it's cold outside." But today, as triple-digit temperatures engulf the Northeast and the Northwest braces for a string of 90-degree days starting tomorrow, all we can really muster to say is "baby, try to stay inside and stay cool."

Here are some commonsense tips to get through what may end up being the worst week of the year:

Dress not to impress or for success—Our office today is filled with men in short-sleeve polo shirts and khakis and women in cotton dresses, attire normally reserved for Fridays. The look is still clean and professional (well, as long as the polo doesn't have a logo for a fast-food chain) and goes a long way to keep you cool.

Softball is normally a great team-building experience, but not this week—Cancel the games, call 'em a draw, or reschedule for when the temperature comes down. The worst thing that could happen would be for a player (who, remember, is an employee or a partner or a boss) gets sidelined with heat stroke or worse.

Stay cool mentally—It's easy to get angry when it's hot. Extremes in weather can lead to extreme behavior. Keep that in mind as you get to and from your office or as you encounter customers and vendors. Remember, they're just as hot as you are but may not be as cool in comportment.

Consider the telecommute—Be open to letting your staff work from home, or think about doing so yourself. Doing this will allow you to avoid one of the worst aspects of working on a stifling day: getting to and from work. In Manhattan, just the thought of braving a steamy subway platform is enough to make you want to call in sick. Letting staff do their thing from home can be a big help with productivity and attitude.

Work late—This may seem counterintuitive, but hear me out. If the air-conditioning in your office is enough to make you forget about the heat outside, consider staying a bit later in the day. This way, you can avoid rush hour, maybe get some backlogged work wiped clean, and leave when the temperature breaks a bit. And if you're the boss and in charge of the AC, keep it going a bit later in the day if you know your staff is staying late.

Do you know of other ways to make working more comfortable during potentially record-setting hot days? Leave your suggestions below.