HOW TO KEEP COOL ON HOT SUMMER NIGHTS
As the summer sizzler makes sleep too hot to handle, The Sleep Council provides some timely tips for keeping cool in bed.
For while high-end temperatures make a welcome debut for most sun-starved Britons, steamy nights and baking bedrooms do little to lull us to sleep.
“Lying in a hot stuffy bedroom is anathema to a good night’s sleep,” says Jessica Alexander of The Sleep Council. “But there are lots of simple steps you can take to ensure you stay cool and comfortable and so avoid a miserable and restless night in bed.”
While the tips below may sound like obvious advice to some, research indicates that the majority of people do not take even these simple measures:
· Take the air. Open windows – and doors – to create a draught
· Lose the duvet and blankets. Just use a cotton sheet, if anything, or a duvet with a low tog rating
· Slip into something a little more comfortable. Wear light cotton nightwear – or go completely naked
· Soak up some shower power. There’s nothing more refreshing on a hot summer night than a deliciously cool shower (or bath) before bedtime
· Tap into drink. Have plenty of cold water and always keep a glass handy by the bed
· Try the diet for good dreams. Avoid too much alcohol or a big meal – both can make you hot and steamy in the middle of the night through dehydration and over-active digestion
· Sleep like a baby. Fill a hot water bottle with ice cold water
· Don’t be a hothead. Put your pillow case in the fridge before bedtime
· Breeze through the night Use an electric fan
· Choose climate control. Invest in an air conditioning unit
· Remember bigger is better. Next time you buy a new bed, make sure it’s big enough for two of you to sleep without disturbing each other: 5ft should be your minimum.
· Be a man (or woman) for all seasons. Choose a bed with Warm and Cool sides or look for the latest products with climate control covers which claim to regulate shifts in body temperature.
- ends -