Beat The Heat: 7 Ways To Stay Cool At Night
We love summer! The long days, the vacations, the fresh fruit and vegetables. There are a lot of things to like about summer. Well, except for the scorching heat. Sleeping during a heatwave can be very hard if you are not accustomed to warmer weather. We, too, know the struggle. You are constantly tossing and turning, trying to find some position or spot on the bed where you can finally get comfy enough to doze off. But lack of sleep can be detrimental to our mental and physical health. You may start experiencing headaches, brain fog, fatigue and other symptoms. But don’t worry, there are plenty of ways you can beat the heat and finally get some rest. Today we will show you how to easily stay cool at night even in the warmest of weather.
Sleeping during a heatwave can be very hard
In this article
How To Stay Cool At Night
According to science, the perfect temperature for the ideal sleep conditions is between 60 to 67° F (15 to 19° C). At this temperature it is way less likely to wake up in the middle of the night from the sweats or because you are too cold. Not only that but it is also the ideal temperature for the human body to maintain the REM sleep cycle and ensure you are well rested. However, summer weather doesn’t really care about your ideal sleep temperature. That’s why you need to help out your body to keep cool. Here are some effective ways to lower your body temperature and sleep well through the night even without an AC.
The perfect temperature for the ideal sleep conditions is between 60 to 67° F (15 to 19° C)
#Open up the windows
Not everybody can afford an AC, a cooling fan, or another type of cooling electronic. But most of us do have windows we can use to our advantage. Make sure your windows are covered during the day, so the room doesn’t get heated up from the sun. Then at night simply open up the windows and let the cool air flow through your home. You can even create a cross breeze by opening two windows on opposite sides of the room or home. Keeping the windows open and the blinds shut allows for the hot air to escape and the cool air to come in its place, cooling down the room and you in the process.
Simply open up the windows and let the cool air flow through your home.
#Take a warm shower
We know this sound counterproductive, but hear us out. Taking a warm shower before bed actually helps to cool down your body temperature, which means you will cooler in bed. While your temperature will rise in the shower, the moment you step out the body will go into cooling mode. However, it’s best to take the shower an hour or hour and a half before going to sleep. This way your body will have enough time to normalize its temperature and get ready for bedtime.
Taking a warm shower before bed actually helps to cool down your body temperature
#Use the Egyptian method
The Egyptians know how to beat the heat. This method offers an easy solution to the hot summer nights. While this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, if you don’t mind damp sheets, you need to try it out. All you need to do is wet your sheet with cold water. You can run them through the dryer for a bit so that they are not soaking (but this will warm them up), or leave them to air dry for a bit before going to bed, or just wring them out really well. Then simply make the bed with the cool, damp sheets and enjoy their cold embrace.
Wet your sheet with cold water, wring them out and put them on your bed
#Cool down your pulse points
A great tip for easily cooling down during a heatwave is to cool down your pulse points. By doing so the cooling effect expands to the rest of your body. You can use ice packs, frozen wash cloths, water bottles and so on. Just place your cooling pad of choice on various parts of your body, such as the wrists, ankles, behind the knees, and in the crooks of your elbows. You can keep them there for around twenty minutes at a time. This will help cool down your body and you can rest.
A great tip for easily cooling down during a heatwave is to cool down your pulse points
#Choose the right sheets
The materials of your sheets play a big role. They can either keep you nice and cool or make you feel trapped in a hot pocket. That’s why it is important to choose carefully. Polyester and silk are great choices if you want to preserve temperature and feel like you are surrounded by fire. While such sheets are amazing for winter, what you need in the summer heat are some good-quality linen or cotton sheets. Bonus tip: you can put your sheets in a bag in the freezer before bed for a bit, so they get nice and cold.
The materials of your sheets play a big role in keeping you warm or cool
#Dress light
Try to dress lightly for bedtime. No need to go butt naked, but it’s also not a good idea to be in long pajamas that cover you from head to toe. Try to wear loose pajamas so that you don’t trap any hot air and the air can circulate. You want something breathable when it comes to the material as well. Go for cotton, bamboo or linen. This will help prevent nighttime overheating.
Try to dress lightly for bedtime
#Avoid certain foods
There are some foods it’s best to avoid before bedtime. Foods and drinks like alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods, deep-fried foods and others eaten in large quantities before bed are simply a recipe for disaster. These types of foods cause your body temperature to rise, which can make you sweat and feel feverish once you go to bed. Not only that, but if they come in large quantities, your stomach may feel upset and so full that it causes you discomfort and will keep you up.
Do not eat foods that can interfere with your body temperature before bed
These are some of the best ways to stay cool at night. We hope you found this article useful. Now you can finally beat the heat and have a restful full night’s rest.
These are some of the best ways to stay cool at night
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