In case you haven't heard, part of Europe [and of the world] is currently facing a terrible heat wave.

I am in that part of Europe now. And it is SCORCHING HOT.

So hot that as soon as I walk out of whatever cool air-conditioned building/means of transport I'm in, I instantly break into sweat.

We had the same situation last year, but in July and August. June is much too soon for that.

I even wrote a short poem last August.

Oh how I missed Bucharest in the summertime...

I went out for a spot of grocery shopping and instantly melted.

Rivers were flowing down my spine...

I WAS a river.

Oh how I missed Bucharest in the summertime.

*NOT*

Anyway, to get back to the topic announced in the title, I recently discovered a simple, yet essential app for these torrid days.

It's called "Water Reminder" or "Drink Water Reminder", it's free, and can be found both in the Apple and Android app stores.

It's such a basic thing - drinking enough water to stay hydrated - yet we so often forget to do it. And it is all the more essential during heat waves.

«Approximately 60% of our body is made up of water,» says Sarah Adler, MS, RD, a performance dietitian with UCLA Health Sports Performance, Powered by Exos. «So we need to make sure we’re replenishing our losses, especially with increased sweating in the summer.»

Proper hydration helps regulate body temperature, support brain function and mood, and keep our joints lubricated and our digestion smooth, Adler says.

The quote is taken from this article on UCLA Health. It's called "How to stay hydrated in the summer heat" and you can find more useful tips there.

For me, what worked best was this simple app. It's easy to configure, doesn't require you to sign up and it makes the cutest "pouring water" sound when the reminder pops up.

Last year I experienced my hottest summer ever. I had been away from Bucharest for over 15 years, and in the meantime global warming had done its thing. Although when I returned I knew I would have hot summers from then on, I wasn't expecting such long and terrible heat waves. And it seems to be getting worse.

Several massage therapists had told me my skin was dry and I needed to drink more water, but when the doctor also pointed out I had "sand" in my kidneys and I really needed to hydrate properly, I realised I had to take it seriously. I was drinking the "standard" 2 litres of water per day, but that was not enough anymore due to the high heat and the fact that I tend to sweat profusely in such weather (which, apparently, is a good thing for regulating body temperature etc., but it also leads to a higher loss of water than usual).

I installed the app thinking it would have the same fate as all the other "health" apps I installed (i.e. be abandoned and forgotten after a while). It did not. I find it super-useful and it was amazing to realise how often I forgot to drink water (being busy, focused on doing something, you name it...).

So I fully recommend it for those of you who are dealing with a heat wave right now. I know the other part of Europe is facing a cold start of the summer - guys, I've been there, I didn't enjoy it either, but trust me, it's better for your health than this scorch we're having here right now. So stop worrying and learn to love the rain :p

The rest of you, if the weather is getting hot, try to stay inside or in the shade, cover your head if you have to go outside and wear loose, light-coloured clothing and, most importantly, drink lots of water.

Stay safe and hydrated <3