As you know, I live in Washington, DC, so I  got to spend last week in the heat wave from hell. It wasn't just extremely hot. It was also humid with poor air quality thrown in as a bonus. Walking from the front door to the lawn to pick up the morning paper could leave you drenched in sweat.

And August hasn't started yet.

Extreme heat can affect our lives in many ways. Even though I have central air conditioning, I find that I don't sleep well when the weather is hot. Plus, the extended hours of light throw off my circadian rhythms, leaving me with much less quality rest than I need. I'm thinking the Mediterranean cultures are on to something: taking a rest midday to allow more activity in the late evening.

The current weather also means no outdoor exercise. Between the bad air and the high humidity, workouts can go from unpleasant and unproductive to dangerous in a matter of minutes. If you don't belong to a gym, you can work out at home. Contrary to popular opinion, you really don't need a ton of equipment to get a good workout. Push-ups require a floor. Wall sits require walls. In my experience, most houses come equippped with both. If you don't have air conditioning at home, do consider heading to a mall for some brisk walking in their air conditioning. It will make you feel better/

Finally, when the temperature is high, the last thing you want to do is to heat the house even more by turning on the stove and oven. I resort to one of three options: 1) things I froze that I can nuke; 2) prepared foods from the grocery store (there is much to be said for rotisserie chicken); or, 3) salads that are light and filling — perhaps topped with some leftover chicken.

How do you change up your routine when the temperature climbs?