in

12 tips to help you sleep in the heat

ZPhotoo - Pixabay
12 tips to help you sleep in the heat
5 (100%) 1 vote

With the current heat waves we are experiencing, it isn’t always easy to sleep well at night. Naturally, people who have air conditioning in their homes don’t have this problem, as they can regulate the indoor temperature, but this isn’t the most economical solution. In fact, air conditioning consumes a great deal of energy in order to produce cold air, and that quickly shows in your electricity bills. Here are a few tips for how to sleep well even in a heat wave. 

 1) Use cotton sheets or nothing at all!

Replace your sheets and pillow slips that are made from any material other than cotton. Light cotton allows the skin to breathe, and helps you get better quality sleep. It is better to sleep naked under the sheets.

Alternatively, you can sleep naked without sheets, if possible.

 2) Diet: eat cold foods

Eat mostly cold foods or foods at room temperature, such as salads. For one thing, your kitchen appliances (oven, hob, grill, etc.) won’t be generating heat, which will ensure that they don’t increase the room temperature. For another thing, if you avoid eating hot meals, you avoid increasing your body temperature, particularly at night, and thus you will be able to sleep better.

 3) Apply something cold to your joints

Before going to sleep, the ideal is to apply an ice pack or a facecloth that you have run under cold water to your pulse points, mainly around the joints (wrists, neck, elbows, groin, ankles and behind the knees).

4) Wear cotton pyjamas or nothing at all!

If even in Summer, you prefer to wear pyjamas, or if you don’t have a choice due to a lack of privacy, wear fairly loose cotton underwear or PJs, that won’t stick to the skin.

The best solution to avoid becoming too hot at night or experiencing night sweats is to sleep naked with no sheets.

5) Point your fan in the right direction…

Point your portable fan towards an open window, so that is pushes the hot air outwards.

If you have a ceiling fan, turn the blades anti-clockwise if possible, thus drawing the air upwards and outwards, rather than circulating it around the room.

6) Drink plenty of water

Drink one or two glasses of cold water before going to sleep. During the night, you will lose water via sweat, which could lead to dehydration.