It’s satisfying when one word sums up an entire philosophy or feeling – think hygge, schadenfreude – and there’s a new kid on the block that is particularly relevant right now. Natsubate is the reason so many of us feel utterly exhausted at the moment, as we battle through perilously high temperatures once more. Hailing from Japan, it translates as “summer exhaustion” and describes that feel-it-in-your-bones, all-encompassing dog- tiredness experienced during periods of extreme heat and humidity.
It’s a heatwave hangover, which often hangs about long after the boiling conditions. Next-level knackeredness. This is not just middle age; it’s natsubate.
We can’t blame it solely on the sun. It’s more of a ripple effect – what the sun encourages us to do. Being outside, walking and travelling more, exercising in warmer conditions, socialising, barbecuing, and drinking extra while we’re there, thus adding a literal hangover on top of the heatwave one. Meanwhile, your body is working overtime, like a finely tuned – albeit sweaty – machine, trying to stay cool and avoid dehydration. And, in case you’d forgotten (you hadn’t), it’s almost impossible to sleep in this weather, too, and that’s before we’ve factored in the World Cup match times. No wonder we’re – say it carefully – natsubating for our lives.
This condition having an official(ish) name brings it a certain validity, and proves that you are not just being a moany party-pooper, a killjoy who hates summer fun. You have been afflicted, and with a phenomenon, no less.
The expert advice to conquer this affliction is fairly straightforward: drink regular fluids, eat balanced meals, replace electrolytes if you’ve been especially … shall we say glowy, and prioritise good-quality sleep. Altogether now: chance would be a fine thing.
Polly Hudson is a freelance writer
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