5 Ways to Keep Cool on Hot Summer Nights
5 Ways to Keep Cool on Hot Summer Nights. Everyone needs their sleep. Getting your eight hours a night is hugely important for your mind and body, and anything that gets in the way could be harmful to your health. Sleep helps you recharge after a long day and sets you up to be productive and energised from the moment you wake up.
But during the height of summer, it can be difficult to drop off. When your bedroom is boiling with the lingering heat of the day, the part of your brain responsible for sleep just doesn’t want to cooperate. You end up tossing and turning all night in a clammy sweat, and by the time you finally nod off, you only manage to snatch a few fretful hours before your alarm brings you back to reality.
Your body needs a comfortable temperature to get you to sleep. Fortunately, it is perfectly possible to achieve this, no matter how hot your room gets at night. Here are five tips to beat the heat and keep cool through those warm summer nights.
Keep the sun out
Over the course of a sunny day, the temperature of your bedroom will increase. When night falls, it takes a long time for your room to cool down, leading to a stuffy, uncomfortable sleep. But if you keep the windows and curtains closed in the day, it will be dramatically cooler in the evening. Of course, if you are indoors you will want to let in natural light, but the chances are, you’ll spend your day out in the sunshine anyway so it won’t even matter.
Wear light clothes
If you are the kind of person that wears heavy synthetic pyjamas all-year-round, you’re not doing yourself any favours. Your nightwear has a significant impact on your sleeping temperature, and you may need to change up your dress code. Light cotton women’s tops are the most effective way to keep your skin cool, or you could even go all the way and sleep in the nude.
Enjoy your space
If you sleep with a partner, you have an additional source of heat to contend with. No matter how much you might enjoy snuggling up together, the only way to stay cool when cohabiting is to give each other some space. Sleep on opposite sides of the bed and keep some distance between you. The same goes for furry friends too: avoid letting dogs or cats sleep on the bed with you.
Lower your body temperature
The lower your temperature is before you get into bed, the easier it will be to sleep. Do what you can to cool yourself down in the evening, whether it’s taking a cold shower, applying an ice pack, or going for a quick swim outdoors.
Buy a fan
If all else fails, spending a bit of money on a fan will keep cool air circulating throughout the room as you sleep. You can buy quality models relatively cheaply, but make sure you buy a noiseless one or your sleep will be disturbed for a very different reason.
