To you who have endured another day, we say it’s okay to move a little slower, it’s okay to drink another glass of water. After all, the power that keeps us going comes from the small but precious reasons we find deep within our hearts.

Record-breaking heatwaves continue day after day. Just walking outside feels suffocating, and even trying to sleep becomes difficult as the sweat-soaked sheets cling to you. These days, both body and mind grow heavy. People become increasingly sensitive, easily irritated by small things. The unexplained anxiety, a sinking mood, and an upsetting sense of discomfort occupy a corner of the mind throughout the day.

Heat is not just an inconvenience; it's a powerful stressor itself. To maintain a stable body temperature, the heart beats faster, and blood vessels dilate. As the body sweats to cool down, fluids and electrolytes are lost, reducing blood flow to the brain. This leads to dizziness, decreased concentration, and fatigue accumulating quickly. Sleepless nights caused by heat only worsen the problem. The brain processes the stress we’ve been exposed to during the day and regulates emotions, so repeated disruptions to this process weaken our ability to control emotions and increase physical exhaustion. As both body and brain grow weary, we become more irritable and anxious. The heat interacts with the body, mind, and brain, weakening us overall.

Remarkably enough, even in this physically and mentally exhausting heat, we still keep going and survive each day. Morning comes, and we head to work; evenings bring conversations with family, and weekends are spent meeting friends. What drives us to move forward even in such harsh conditions?

It is not simply material rewards like money or food. There is a deeper psychological force that motivates us, and at its core is the need for connection. Humans instinctively want to be loved and to be recognized, to belong. This desire is deeply ingrained from birth. So, even on hot days, we make plans with others, engage with colleagues at work, and talk with family at home. Though it may be uncomfortable and tiring, the sense of connection and warmth from relationships gives us the energy to carry on.

The second driving force is the desire for meaning. Beyond mere survival, the urge to find one’s own direction and purpose in life keeps us going. Working, reading, and learning new things amid the heat are not just for livelihood; they satisfy our need for recognition, achievement, and self-identity.

According to psychiatrist and philosopher Viktor Frankl, a person who finds meaning in life can endure any circumstances. Indeed, meaning is the mental fuel that helps us withstand the heat.

Finally, there's the longing for small joys. The refreshing bite of watermelon, the breeze during a nighttime walk, the casual chats with friends—these little comforts offer unexpectedly great relief. People unconsciously seek these moments and use them to restore their minds. This is not avoidance, but a way of healing. Through these small moments, we regain balance in life.

If you find yourself easily irritated or feel tightness in your chest without reason in the heat, don’t blame yourself. It doesn’t mean you are weak; it’s simply a signal that your brain and body are struggling to adapt to the hot environment. In such moments, instead of trying to force the stress away, calmly acknowledge, "Ah, my body and mind are reacting this way right now." Acceptance helps the brain’s anxiety-regulating circuits work better. Creating small routines can also help. For example, carrying a water bottle before going out, taking shade even briefly, or intentionally spending short moments on meditation or stretching during the day can significantly reduce heat-related fatigue. The key is consciously making time to care for yourself. Simply checking in with how you’re feeling—both emotionally and physically—gives your brain the space it needs to recover.

Though the hot summer leaves us feeling tired, it also makes us reconsider what truly matters. The warmth we find in relationships, the meaning we seek in work, the small pleasures we discover daily—these little things touch our hearts and lift us again. So to you who have endured another day, we say it’s okay to move a little slower, it’s okay to drink another glass of water. The power that keeps us going comes from the small but precious reasons we find deep inside our hearts. If we live each day remembering these reasons, this heat will eventually pass, and a pleasant breeze will blow again.