BBQ’s, beer gardens and flips flops for days on end. Yep, this UK heatwave is all fun and games until it comes to getting a good night’s sleep and as we lie in bed with fans whirring ineffectively nearby, sheets on the floor, sweating profusely, we find ourselves daming this crazy weather. So what’s the solution to getting a good night’s sleep in the heat? Check these top tips to help you out when it’s too hot to sleep…
Wear the right PJs
While it may be tempting to strip off entirely, it’s actually better to sleep in thin cotton pyjamas that let the skin breathe and will soak up any excess sweat (yum.) Also make sure your bedsheets are made of a light natural, material too.
Freeze your sheets
Really. Pop your sheets in a plastic bag and stick them in the freezer for a few minutes before bed for icy cool bedding. If your freezer isn’t big enough to store your sheets then try it with your pillowcase instead.
Keep curtains and blinds closed
Throwing your curtains open in the morning to let in more air may be a good idea after a stuffy night’s sleep but make sure you close blinds or curtains when you leave for the day. It sounds obvious but the more sunshine coming into your home, the hotter it will be.
Make a cold water bottle
Fill up your hot water bottles with ice and chilled water and place it on your pulse points, such as the neck, wrists and ankles to cool your overall body temperature. Or you could put it in the freezer and bring it to bed with you.
Sleep downstairs
Hot air rises so if your bedroom is on the second floor or in the loft it might be worth attempting to sleep downstairs.
Invest in a mattress cooling pad
As much as we love the comfort of a memory foam mattress some retain your body heat. Fortunately, the mattress market has taken note, and now there’s a huge array of cooling pads or cooling toppers that work to regulate the temperature of your bed.
Leave your bedroom doors open
You might have your windows open as wide as physically possible but to keep a room really cool you need air to travel through the space. Keeping doors open will create more of a breeze.
Sleep alone
Two bodies = twice the body heat. Consider (temporarily) saying goodbye to your other half so you can both get a better night’s sleep.
Keep hydrated
It goes without saying, the more you sweat the more you should drink. Have a glass of water before you go to sleep and keep an extra glass by your bed.
Use this nifty fan hack
That budget desktop fan just not doing it for you? Basically all it’s doing is circulating hot air around your room, so try filling a mixing bowl with some icy water or ice pack and place it in front of the fan so it pushes the cooler air around the room instead.
