If, like many people, you’ve been up all night in the summer heat (and not in a good way), you may well be in need of a seasonal sleep overhaul.
Tropical nights – categorised as those where the temperature doesn’t drop below 20°C – can play havoc will your ability to drop off and the quality of your sleep once you eventually do.
And with such nights only looking set to become more regular in the UK (thanks, global warming), now’s the time to take action to turn that sweaty sleep cycle into a cool slumber that’ll have you waking up fully refreshed.
Here are some top tips to follow, courtesy of the sleep experts at Mattressman…
Get the right bedding
The first port of call for combating bedtime heat is to ensure your bed is properly set up for the summer months. You wouldn’t leave the heating on, so why snuggle up in a bed that’s been designed to be a cosy winter nest.
Many people don’t realise they’re using a duvet designed for winter: Make sure you’ve invested in a thin, low tog duvet that’ll keep you and your bed light and airy during nighttime hours.
You could even go one step further and use a cotton sheet: Highly breathable and absorbant, it’ll allow your body to keep you cool naturally should the temperature rise.
Keep your sleeping area cool
The key to a good night’s sleep doesn’t start and end at your bed: Turning over the pillow to the cool side is a classic tip that certainly works, but keeping your curtains drawn during the day will help keep the temperature down during the heat of the day.
A fan will also help keep your cool as you nod off – but if you’re finding that’s not enough, try placing a bottle of frozen water in front of it for some added chill factor.
Speaking of freezers…
Nothing beats getting cosy in some cool bedding, and putting yours in the freezer for 1-2 hours before bed is the ultimate way to beat the heat.
Of course, you’ll need to place them into a plastic bag beforehand, and not just to keep off any ice and water – we once knew someone who ended up have to defrosting their freezer after their towel got frozen stuck to it…
Keep hydrated
Keeping hydrated is one of the healthiest and easiest ways to keep your body temperature down.
If you’re dehydrated, it’s harder for your blood vessels to widen which results in less blood flow to the skin and less heat is transferred into the air from your body.
Get a cooling mattress
For a more technologically advanced method of keeping yourself cooler at night, you may want to consider investing in a cooling mattress. What does a cooling mattress entail, you ask?
Some mattresses incorporate smart fibres which are designed to stay cool, breathable and regulate your body temperature – perfect for people that can never
seem to cool down in the night. Some also include naturally cooling materials such as latex.
Here are some of our top cooling mattress recommendations: