There was a time when the thought of summer brought forth memories of ice cream and lazy afternoons spent sipping iced drinks. Distant memories now, I'm sure, but there's nothing a like a few creative hacks to keep the heat down and the afternoons somewhat-chilled – so here's a few fast fixes you can try around the house:

CHILL YOUR... BED?
'Tis the season when a good night's sleep is more elusive than a rickshaw in the apocalyptic wasteland that is Mirpur. But alas, I persevere. A quick pinterest search introduced me to soft gel ice packs, which can be slipped between the sheets to cool your mattress. Don't message your trusty online delivery service just yet; here's a no-fuss alternative - fill up one of those familiar flat hot-water flasks with ice-cold water instead.

ICY SHEETS
Stick your sheets and pillow cases in the freezer for a few hours before hitting the hay. Granted, this won't keep you cool all night but it does provide a brief respite from the heat.  I recommend placing them in plastic bags first - unless your favourite aroma therapy fragrance is frozen chicken curry from the night before.

DIY FACE MIST
You can keep your skin hydrated throughout summer by adding essential oils of your choice to a travel-sized spray bottle containing water. I add three drops of tea tree oil - a miracle cure for acne - to a 12 ml perfume bottle filled with water You can replace this concoction with any essential oil/serum of your choice. Store it in the fridge, and pop it in your bag so you can use it on the go. Try it - the skin benefits are profound. 

"PANI KHAO"
Water is without a doubt a cure to many problems. Take it from me - I carry two bottles of water everywhere I go. While 7 glasses a day is an ideal I aspire to, I often forget to stick to this rule. Instead, I find myself frequenting streetside juice stalls to quench my thirst for a more refreshing alternative. To put an end to this unsanitary love story (and save a few bucks), I've opted to carry iced lemonade (or any other fruit juice) in a sip-flask. There's nothing better to refresh yourself in this unbearable heat. 

GO OLD SCHOOL
Temperatures are mounting... and so is the pressure to stick your head in the freezer. If, like me, you're one of the unlucky souls without air conditioning in your room, now's the best time to invest in portable fans. Position a fan across from a window, so that the wind from outside and the fan combine to form a refreshing cross-breeze. Make a DIY air conditioner by positioning a shallow pan or bowl filled with ice in front of a fan. The breeze will pick up cold water from the ice's surface as it melts, creating a cooling mist. 

Mithi Chowdhury is a dog-loving-movie-watching-mediocrity-fearing normal person. Either that or a penguin. Find out at mithichy612@gmail.com