The heat during summer can lead to many people not getting enough sleep. There are many ways to improve your quality of sleep during a hot night, here is how you can be prepared for sleeping during the next heatwave.
Turn off Appliances
It may not make a huge amount of difference, but you would be surprised at how much heat some electrical appliances give off. One way to cool down the room is to turn off any electrical appliances at the plug. Everything from your phone charger to the lamp beside your bed can emit some heat energy. Switching off appliances is a good habit to get into at night to save electricity and help the environment too.
Get Low
Heat rises as we all know, so sleeping lower can help you to keep cooler. If you are seriously struggling to sleep, it may be worth putting your mattress on the floor or getting the airbed out. This also works for in the home too; sleeping downstairs may well be cooler than upstairs.
Hang a Wet Sheet
Open your bedroom window and hang your spare bedsheet in front of it. Make sure the sheet is wet, but obviously not too wet unless you want your flooring soaked by morning. This can reduce the room temperature and is a great way to block out the sun if you don’t have blinds.
Shower Before Bed
A shower can aid in cooling your body temperature down and so the perfect time to do this is just before bed. This will also help you to feel clean just before bed. The problem that many people face is turning their shower too cold. Whilst this may provide cooling whilst in the shower, having a mildly warm shower will actually provide more benefit in cooling you.
Use a Fan
An electrical fan is a great way to keep cool during any heatwaves. For some, the noise of a fan is also a great way to fall asleep. The movement of the air will also help to prevent any mosquitos. It is best to avoid a fan if you suffer with hay fever or asthma though, as this can circulate allergens and dust around the room.
Don’t Drink Alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can dehydrate you and in the hot weather this is exactly what you don’t want. Whilst many turn to a night cap as a way to get to sleep, becoming dehydrated will increase your body’s temperature. If you really struggle to sleep in the hot weather, avoiding alcohol completely is your best option.
Freeze Your Pillow
You may have heard of the cool side of the pillow, but you have never experienced it; until now. Putting your pillow in a freezer will make it nice and cool just before bed. This can provide a great cooling effect when settling down to sleep.
Ensure Your Cooling System is Working Effectively
Whatever cooling system you own, whether it be an AC system or a HVAC system, you should ensure that it is in full working order, so you get the most from it. This means cleaning the air filters regularly as failing to regularly maintain your system will mean more energy will be used for it to work effectively. If you need your system replaced or fixed, search for ”HVAC near me” for a full list of experienced specialists in your area.
Sleep Alone
It may be time to kick your partner out of bed during the next heatwave. Sleeping alone is much cooler than sleeping with someone and if your partner is one to snuggle, then the chances of you cooling down are less than likely. If you have a spare bed, it makes more sense to sleep separately during a heatwave, particularly if you are both struggling with the temperature. This will also stop any disruptions if one of you can fall asleep but the other cannot.
Having the Correct Bedding
During a heatwave, cotton sheets are ideal for keeping cool whilst still having something over you. Many people cannot sleep with nothing around them and so a cotton sheet is your best bet in the heat. A gel mattress may also be a good investment, especially if you live somewhere with plenty of hot nights.
Blasting your AC 24/7 can be expensive, and many people cannot afford this. Not only this but having your AC on constantly isn’t good for the environment and can even dry your skin out. Following these tips can aid in a better sleep during the hot weather.
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