- Increased humidity.
One of the most common reasons is increased air humidity. Because when the air is saturated with moisture, sweat does not evaporate from the surface of the skin, but remains, creating a feeling of stickiness and overheating. This makes it harder for the body to cool down, and you can overheat quickly, even just walking or doing everyday tasks. In this state, the heart works harder to cool the body, and the brain receives less oxygen — leading to reduced concentration, fatigue, and drowsiness. For example, after a short walk to the store or just a few minutes on public transport on a humid summer day, you might already feel the need to lie down and rest. Therefore, during periods of high humidity, it’s important to drink more water, wear light clothing made of natural fabrics, and avoid physical exertion during the hottest hours. This will help reduce the strain on the body and maintain energy throughout the day.
- Irregular eating.
In the heat, many people experience a reduced appetite, skip meals, or substitute a full lunch with coffee and a cold dessert. It seems that light food or the lack of hunger is normal in summer. However, the body still uses energy, especially if you’re active during the day or spending time in the sun. So, when you skip meals, your blood sugar levels fluctuate sharply. This leads to weakness, headaches, mood swings, and drowsiness. For example, if you only had a piece of fruit for breakfast or didn’t manage to eat at all, by lunchtime, your body starts feeling an energy deficit. Even a cup of coffee won’t compensate for this. To stay energetic throughout the day, it’s important not only to drink enough water but also to eat regularly.
- Psychological pressure of “Summer Productivity”.
Summer is associated with active leisure, travel, and new achievements, and this image is reinforced through social media and the media. Everyone seems busy, traveling, discovering new hobbies, or engaging in sports, which can create the feeling that you must keep up. People start comparing themselves to others, feeling that they are not making the most of the summer, which leads to stress and internal tension. For example, you see others actively traveling or taking on new projects and feel that you should be doing the same, even though you don’t have the energy for it. This pressure makes you set unnecessarily high expectations for yourself, which can lead to emotional exhaustion even without physical exertion. As a result, instead of simply enjoying the summer days, you feel drained from the constant chase for productivity.
- Excess light.
In summer, when the sun rises early and sets late, you naturally spend more time exposed to light — both outdoors and indoors under artificial lighting or in front of screens. On the one hand, it seems to add energy, but on the other hand, it is the excess of light that often causes rapid fatigue during the day. Light directly affects the production of melatonin, which is responsible for your sleep. In the dark, its level increases, and you start to feel drowsy. But when the sun shines for a long time in the evening, and then the TV or smartphone is on for hours, the brain does not receive a signal that it is time to rest. As a result, it becomes harder to fall asleep, sleep becomes shallow, and you wake up feeling exhausted. To prevent this, it’s helpful to dim the lights one to two hours before bed, turn off screens or switch to a “night mode,” and use blackout curtains in the bedroom.
- Overheating of the brain.
During hot summer days, the body expends more energy to maintain a normal body temperature. This particularly affects the brain, which is one of the most temperature-sensitive organs. When exposed to high temperatures, your brain also experiences overheating, which can disrupt its normal function. Overheating the brain can cause symptoms such as headaches, decreased concentration, fatigue, and even dizziness. High temperatures reduce the efficiency of neurons, making decision-making and information processing more difficult. This can also impact emotional well-being, causing irritability and anxiety. Overheating has a particularly strong effect on people who are exposed to the sun for long periods of time or work indoors without proper ventilation. When body temperature rises, the brain may not receive enough oxygen and blood to function properly, which further worsens well-being. Thus, brain overheating in summer can be not only physically exhausting but also mentally challenging, leading to quick fatigue, reduced productivity, and general weakness.
To restore focus and mental clarity in summer, use medications like Armod and Modalert. They help increase alertness and improve concentration!