10 Tips to Help You Stay Cool While Sleeping

Summer nights can be very uncomfortable when the temperatures go over 100 degrees. You may live in a home that doesn’t have efficient air conditioning, or you’re just trying to save money on your electricity costs. You may have health conditions that make you more susceptible to heat, such as menopause or pregnancy. No matter what the reason is, you have to get to sleep to perform at your very best. If you find that it is difficult to sleep in the heat, here are some tips to help you find the rest you need so that you aren’t groggy and grumpy the next morning.

1. Create Air Movement

A fan often is enough to cool you at night with the cooler air temperatures. Place it where you can get good circulation, but make sure it doesn’t blow on your head, which could make sleeping even more difficult. You might want to invest in two fans to create a cross breeze. The more air flow you can get around yourself, the cooler you will stay all night. Sleeping next to someone increases the temperature around you, so you may want to invest in a bigger bed or two beds.

2. Check Out Your Sheets

Lightweight sheets will be more comfortable. Silk is a breathable fabric that wicks away moisture, like when you’re sweating. This gives you a cooling effect. It’s also hypoallergenic and luxurious. Cotton is another good choice in the summer.

You will get a few minutes of relief by placing your sheets in the freezer in a plastic bag before using them at night. This is the opposite of placing them in the dryer in the winter. This method might be a little more extreme, but when you are desperate for a good night’s sleep and are short on cash, this is a quick–but temporary–fix.

3. Watch What You’re Wearing to Bed

As with the sheets, wear lightweight clothes to sleep in. Silk and cotton are breathable fabrics that take moisture away from your skin. Lighter colored clothes do not absorb heat, which is another way to stay cooler at night. Going au naturel is controversial. Some people say the sweat stays on the body and some people feel it helps them stay cooler. You’ll have to decide which way you prefer.

4. Shower Before Bed

A cool shower before you turn in helps your body cool down. However, water that is too cold stimulates the body’s natural heat production. The temperature should be around room temperature or a little cooler. You will feel better and cleaner when lying down.

5. Invest in a Cooling Pillow

There are a number of cooling pillows on the market that will help you chill out at night. Don’t think about them just for your head. Get one for your feet or one to place at your stomach. It’s good to check out all the options, so you get the one that is right for the way you sleep. A hot water bottle that is filled with ice cold water is another option.

6. DIY Air Conditioner

In addition to your fan, create the effect of an air conditioner by placing a bowl of ice in front of your fan. This creates a cooling effect. The principle is to get a fine mist of water in the air. There are a number of methods to get the best effect. If you have a window open at night, place a damp sheet that can blow the fine mist into the air. This is a method that the Egyptians have used for years to get a good night’s sleep. Of course, once the ice melts, the effects of this DIY air conditioner will also melt away.

7. Purchase a Portable Air Conditioner

Increase the power of your HVAC system by investing in an appliance that increases your comfort. Instead of cooling your entire house to the low temp that you want for nighttime sleeping, a small portable air conditioner conserves electricity and cools just the room you’re in. They’re more environmentally friendly and less expensive than ever before. Instead of installing it in a window, you just plug it in. Portable air conditioners come in a variety of sizes, so you can get one that is perfect for you bedroom and your needs.

8. Work with Elements in Your Room

Light can make you feel hot, even if it doesn’t produce any heat itself. Trick your body into feeling cooler by making sure all the lights are off and the curtains are drawn. Keep the room cooler during the day by not opening the drapes and preventing the heat of sunlight from entering the room as much as possible. Avoid using your stove and putting more heat into the house. Plugging in your electronics increases the heat in your home. Unplug items that aren’t in use. Keep your electronics plugged in away from your bed if you do need them to charge while you sleep.

9. Watch What You’re Eating

Proper hydration is vital to keeping cool. You need to make sure you’re drinking plenty of water during the hot days to stay hydrated. Sweating at night also makes you lose a lot of water, which will make you feel worse when you wake up. Have a lighter evening meal, so that you don’t feel hot and heavy from your food. Smaller, lighter meals metabolize easier, so your body isn’t working so hard to digest your food and keep you cool at the same time.

10. Sleep Closer to the Floor

Remember in your high school science class when you learned that hot air rises? It’s also true that cool air sits closer to the floor. It might not be ideal, but sleeping on or near the floor could potentially give you a better night’s sleep. A straw or bamboo mat also draws heat away from your body. They aren’t exactly a big puffy mattress, but when you need sleep it might be worth the discomfort.

Get a Good Night’s Sleep

There are many different ways to keep cool at night when your A/C unit isn’t up to the task. Be inventive and creative. You may need to utilize more than one method for complete relief. Your sleep is important to your functionality the following day. Who wants to go to work when they’re tired and aggravated over not having a good night? Sleep is important to your overall health. Don’t let the summer weather get you down.