There’s a part of summer when the heat sticks to you like glue. If you don’t have air conditioning (or you’re trying to cut back on your bills), you need practical ways to keep cool.

Fortunately, there’s a lot of options. Give any of these tips a spin, and you will be chilling out in no time.

1. Reduce the Heat. When you feel the mercury rising, the best thing you can do is to keep it down. There are lots of tasks you do in the home that create heat, like run the stove or the dryer. On the hottest days, you can easily save a few indoor degrees by waiting to do these chores another day. If you must use heat, plan it for the early morning or late evening, when the temps are low. Shutting your blinds and shades when the sun shines directly on the window will also help to block the heat.
2. Cool Off Indoors. Do you have it set as cool as you can, but you’re still sweating? Try changing the way you feel about it. Wear lightweight clothing that isn’t too restrictive. Use fans to circulate the air. Be sure to stay hydrated, especially if you engage in a lot of exercise. If you are handy with a blender, make a frozen drink for lunch or dinner. Add a nice break with a book on your patio, and it might feel like a mini resort vacation.
3. Head Outdoors. Sometimes, the hot weather outside feels better than inside, because you can catch a breeze every now and then. Plan to get up early and go for a walk or run while it’s a bit cooler outside. When you get home, take a lukewarm shower to help cool you down and refresh you. If you can, find a shady spot in your yard or at the local park. A break from the busy world in a spot with bright colors and fresh air may help all your worries disappear.
4. Feel Someone Else’s Chill. Even if you’re trying not to run the air conditioning all the time, you can still take advantage of it. Malls, museums and libraries have to run it for their patrons. Head to the mall to window shop and get some breezy walking in. Visit the library for a new book or DVD, or even to use the computers. Find out when the local museums offer free days. That way, you can enjoy the cool air without having to spend a lot of money.

Getting through the heat of summer takes a few different methods to help you chill out. When you follow this advice, you may find that it feels even better than you thought.