Heat in the office: 10 tips for a productive summer

How to stay focused, motivated and legally covered even above 30 degrees

When temperatures climb in summer, the office quickly becomes a strain. Concentration suffers, the mood drops and the physical load rises. What surprises many people: around 50 per cent of all office space in Germany has no air conditioning at all. Small teams and start-ups in conventional rented offices are hit hardest.

Beyond falling productivity, there is the question of what the law requires when the office gets hot. Employers are legally obliged to provide a healthy indoor climate. Above 26 degrees, first measures should be taken. From 30 degrees they are mandatory. Above 35 degrees a room no longer counts as a suitable workplace at all.

Here are ten practical tips:

How to deal with heat at work. The focus is on solutions you can put in place immediately, and on modern alternatives such as flex offices and air-conditioned coworking spaces.

1. Shift your working hours Starting earlier lets you make real use of the cooler morning hours. Teams with flexitime or a flexible daily routine benefit twice over: they avoid the hottest part of the day and begin the day more focused.

2. Use flex offices or coworking spaces with air conditioning A permanently overheated workplace does not only reduce performance, over time it puts health at risk. There is a simple answer: use a temporary alternative. Flex offices, bookable on Seatsmatch.com, generally offer modern air conditioning and complete infrastructure. That is not only more pleasant but often cheaper than buying portable units yourself.

3. Change location if it stays too hot If an office regularly turns into a heat trap and cannot be retrofitted, moving to an air-conditioned flex office or a well-equipped coworking space may be the best answer. Many of these spaces meet modern standards and can be booked at short notice via Seatsmatch.com. That lets small teams work effectively even at the height of summer, without signing a long-term lease.

4. Air the room and block the sun at the right times Open the windows early in the morning and late in the evening for fresh air. During the day, keep the sun out consistently with curtains or blinds. That prevents heat building up and keeps the room temperature stable.

5. Position fans properly A fan on its own is often not enough. Placement is what matters. Set at an angle to an open window, it creates a cooling airflow. Combined with slightly damp cloths or cool packs, it produces a pleasant microclimate.

6. Adjust what you wearBreathable clothing made of cotton or linen supports the body's own temperature regulation. In many offices it is worth agreeing a lighter dress code for the summer. The team stays capable without losing professionalism.

7. Drink plenty, but not ice coldLukewarm water or unsweetened herbal tea is considerably healthier than ice-cold drinks. The body is cooled gently rather than put under extra strain. Two to three litres a day is a good guide. Many coworking spaces have water dispensers or infused-water stations.

8. Switch off equipmentDevices such as printers, monitors and chargers generate extra heat. Switching them off consistently when they are not in use keeps the room cooler and saves energy at the same time.

9. Bring in plantsPlants such as spider plant, aloe vera or peace lily improve air quality and raise humidity. That helps particularly in heavily air-conditioned rooms where the air dries out quickly. Plants also have a calming effect and support concentration.

10. Take cooling breaksShort breaks with cool water on your wrists or neck, a shaded spot outside, or a few minutes in an air-conditioned common room all help stabilise your circulation. Many flex offices have quiet corners that are ideal for short recovery breaks.

In short: in summer, health and safety and well-being go hand in hand

Heat in the office is no longer an exception, it is reality for many companies. Choosing flexibility and modern solutions protects your team's health and improves its performance for the long run.

Whether for a handful of hot days or as a strategic alternative location, Seatsmatch.com offers a wide choice of air-conditioned offices, coworking spaces and flexible workplaces. Providers such as andys.cc, myhive offices, Regus, cowork AG, betahaus Hamburg and StartupHouse can be booked immediately, with infrastructure, a comfortable climate and a flexible term.

What are your best tips against heat in the office?

How do you handle high temperatures at work? Are you already using flex offices or coworking spaces in summer? Does your team have particular routines, tricks or summer spots? We would love to hear about your experience and are happy to add it here.