Temperatures are rising and the summer is almost upon us. But the glorious weather that the UK experiences during a heat wave has its downsides. After a day of enjoying the sunshine, many people come to dread bedtime because it is so difficult to sleep while it’s hot. Nights of tossing and turning, always turning the pillow to the cold side, become all-too-familiar. Since hot weather isn’t always expected in the UK, we are often unprepared with air cons in our homes.
But, you don’t have to suffer. There are a number of things you can do to help you sleep well in the hot weather, and Jasmine Silk is here to break to down for you.
Cool Down Before Bed
When you want to get a restful night’s sleep in the hot weather, it is very important that you prepare properly beforehand. That means reducing your body temperature as best you can before you climb into your sheets. Here are a few ways you can prepare for a good night’s sleep in the hot temperatures:
Shower
If you often take a shower in the evening. It is usually recommended that you take one at a tepid or lukewarm temperature. You don’t want to raise your temperature anymore with a hot shower. But, you also won’t benefit from a cold shower either. A cold shower will cause your body to preserve heat as a reaction to the cold temperature.
Drink
Don’t drink alcohol before you go to bed. Drinking before bedtime is never good for sleep, but it will be affected even more in the hot weather. Keeping up good practices regarding eating and drinking before bed will do you good in the hot weather too.
Exercise
Regular exercise will help your natural sleeping pattern anyway. But, during hot temperatures, it is often better to exercise on a morning, rather than on a night. That way, you’re not increasing your body temperature before you go to bed.
Windows
You should only open your window to cool down the room if the temperature is colder outside than it is inside. If the sun is shining through your window, or the temperature is hotter outside, you should keep your windows closed and even your curtains.
But if the temperature has cooled down on an evening, you may want to leave your window open for some time before you go to bed. This will help to bring the room’s temperature down in good time.
Pyjamas
In order to get a good nights sleep in uncomfortable heat, you must be wearing the right pyjamas. Although it may be tempting to wear as little clothes as possible when it’s hot, this isn’t always the best solution.
You need to wear a material that is breathable but will also wick away excess moisture so that you don’t feel hot and bothered. Silk is the perfect material for this. Not only is it extremely breathable and lightweight, but silk pyjamas are also naturally temperature regulating, keeping you cool in warm temperatures. Not to mention that they’re super luxurious too!
Water
Keep a cold glass of water by your bed while going to sleep. That way, if you find that during the night your body is overheating, you have cold water to help bring your body temperature down.
Another trick which involves water is a technique used by the ancient Egyptians which involves gently spraying your sheets with cool water and placing it on top of you. This helps take your temperature down. It is known to work, however, you should make sure you’re not soaking your sheet too much, as a wet sheet may be uncomfortable.
Bedding
Similarly to your pyjamas, the kind of bedding you sleep with will affect your comfort while it’s hot. First of all, you should make sure your duvet tog is appropriate for summer. If you’re unsure what yours is, the label will tell you. Duvet togs between 3.5 and 7.5 are suitable for summer, so if you have a more wintery duvet tog that’s around 13.5, you may want to consider switching.
Then, you must consider the material of your bedding. Again, breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics like our silk bedding will work best. Even switching to a silk pillowcase will make a difference.
Electricals
The electric devices in your bedroom will product heat, contributing to the hot temperature in your room. To avoid this having an impact on your sleep, try turning off all of your electrical devices and the sockets. That way there is no extra heat being produced from any source.
To read more about the benefits of silk and how it can help you sleep, take a look at the rest of our blog.
