Tips for Sleeping Better in Hot Weather

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Although nighttime temperatures may still cool and pleasant for many, the summer heat could make it more difficult to fall—and stay—asleep in warmer parts of the country. Obviously, if you have a working air conditioner in the bedroom, getting comfortable at night won’t necessarily be much of an issue. But if you’re not in a position to crank the AC, or you simply want to reduce your energy bill, consider implementing the following tips for sleeping better in hot weather.

 

Before sleep:

  • Keep hot air and sunlight out of your bedroom during the daytime by closing the room’s windows, curtains, and/or blinds
  • Drink a glass of cold water before heading to bed to help lower your body temperature
  • Rinse off with a cool shower prior to turning in
  • Change your bed linens to light, breathable cotton to take advantage of the material’s natural ventilating properties
  • Consider getting lightweight, loose fitting, breathable pajamas – or sleep clothes made of sweat-wicking material
  • If possible, keep bedroom doors open to allow airflow
  • Skip the socks – your feet help regulate your overall body temp, so if they’re hot, you’re hot!

 

During sleep:

  • Position two fans at strategic locations in the room to create a nice cross-breeze
  • Put a bowl of ice cubes in front of the fans or drape a damp towel over the fan to further cool the air it circulates
  • Use a product such as the Cool Pad from CozyWinters to help absorb and dissipate your body heat to make you more comfortable in bed
  • Place an ice-filled plastic baggie or a frozen washcloth over the pulse points in your wrists or neck for targeted cooling
  • Heat rises, so consider moving the bed downstairs or ditching the bed frame to get your mattress lower
  • Get out of the house entirely by setting up a tent in the backyard or sleeping on a screened-in porch

 

A good night’s sleep can be hard to come by in the summer when temperatures hover in the 80s or 90s even after the sun goes down. If you don’t have access to air conditioning, try these tricks for beating the nighttime heat.

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