Going Full Tilt Through the Heat Wave

Aug 27

3 min read

Finally, the heat-wave temperature curve of the past few weeks has broken.

How We Got Through the Heat Waves 2026

Rather than slowing down, we stepped things up physically and mentally over the past few weeks — increasing working hours, the number of clients and our professional activities, while still fitting in daily tutoring and programming for the next software module.

In other words, it was an excellent opportunity to put the whole work package to a rather strict personal resilience test:

Hydration — for me, a central part of physical and mental wellness for many years, particularly through what is commonly referred to as “restructured H₂O" (or Kangen H₂O, as the Japanese call it). Alongside that came a high-quality plant-based vitamin supplement, as well as measures to support a healthy gut microbiome. We have been vegetarian for many years anyway.

And, of course: deliberate periods of rest throughout the day.

Our dachshund Walter played a rather decisive coaching role in that department. He has mastered the art of deep relaxation like nobody else in our household — and is an absolute master of doing nothing when temperatures rise above a certain level.

The Result?

Very positive — and quite encouraging. Day after day, it was: “Full steam ahead!”

Admittedly, there were a few brief moments when I thought:

“OK — this is it. I'm about to hit the deck …”

It never happened, though. Not even when temperatures at my workplace occasionally exceeded 40 °C.

Fig. 1: A ‘fake news’ depiction of the heatwave in the summer of 2026 – featuring the resilience strategies that helped us maintain our performance sustainably, even in what were at times extreme temperatures: consistent hydration, sufficient rest between physically demanding work shifts – and a few other things besides. It worked well this time. Let’s hope it goes just as well during the next heatwave. — **Fig. 1:** A ‘fake news’ depiction of the heatwave in the summer of 2026 – featuring the resilience strategies that helped us maintain our performance sustainably, even in what were at times extreme temperatures: consistent hydration, sufficient rest between physically demanding work shifts – and a few other things besides. It worked well this time. Let’s hope it goes just as well during the next heatwave.

A Few Take-Aways:

When you cover up to 10 kilometers during a six- to seven-hour work shift, while constantly lifting, pushing and pulling heavy crates and other bulky objects, you certainly know by the end of the day that you've done some work.

Luckily the working hours were flexible — early in the morning and again in the late afternoon or evening, often after a short, heat-disturbed night's sleep. Plus, sooner or later, when you have to change a completely sweat-soaked T-shirt twice during a work session while pouring roughly two liters of H₂O into yourself, you realize:

“Ghee-wiz — Yes: It really is hot.“

And yet, amid all this personal and ultimately successful “Ü-60-surviving-Heat-Wave-Battle,” there is one thing we must not forget: the extraordinary heatwave in June was associated with more than 12,000 additional deaths across Europe — a preliminary estimate that may rise as further data become available.

That puts my little personal experiment into quite a different perspective. Respect and humility are surely more appropriate here than any kind of “Look what an over-60-year-old can still do.”

Looking Back and Ahead

Over the past few weeks, I kept thinking about the men working on road construction sites in Texas whom I observed during my years with the IODP

— predominantly Mexicans and other Latinos, working under such extreme conditions not just for a few particularly hot weeks, but for months and years.

In Texas, 45 °C (113 °F) in the shade is certainly possible during the summer — although, as you might imagine, shade is in rather short supply when you're doing road construction on scorching asphalt. It's incredible what these people do every single day. That puts my own little experiment into perspective, too.

Did I Enjoy My “Over-60 Exercise”?

Honestly: not always.

But it was necessary — given my current business and professional development, and the resilience and staying power required to keep things moving forward. Ultimately, it also contributed to my personal and professional development as an over-60-year-old.

And perhaps that is one of the most valuable lessons from these past few months:

Even an aging body can still accomplish an astonishing amount — if you listen to it, respect its limits, and at the same time give it the right conditions to perform.

Summer’s End — All Good!

The temperature curve has finally broken. The work goes on — now considerably less strenuous. With temperatures back to their normal seasonal levels, the workload suddenly feels almost ridiculously easy.

Walter, the clever little fellow, will of course continue to insist on taking no unnecessary steps when it gets hot. Highly recommended.

And me?

I'm pretty happy with what an over-60-year-old can still accomplish.