Beat The Heat
Summer's heat can put a damper on a good night's sleep. Here are some things you can do to achieve and maintain your ideal sleeping temperature. Because better sleep at night means more summer fun the next day.
Summer is heating up and that means family picnics, ball games at the park and sun-filled days at the pool. For too many of us, however, it can also mean hot, sticky and uncomfortable nights in bed. Try as we may, we just can't seem to get good quality sleep in the summertime. So, what can we do about it? Here are a few useful tips to help you sleep cooler in the heat of summer.
Set the Scene
You make sure your kitchen is all prepped for cooking, your dining room for eating and your bathroom for getting yourself ready everyday but what about your bedroom? There's a lot you can do during the day to help you sleep cooler at night. Did you know that some 40% of the heat that gets in your house comes in via window glass? So start by pulling the drapes, shutters or blinds and keep your bedroom dark and cool. If you don't have shades or curtains, use blankets to cover the windows. You'll be amazed how much difference they can make. If you have a ceiling fan, set it to run counter-clockwise. That way, it pulls the hot air up toward the ceiling.
Spring for Natural Sheets
The average person gives off about a pint of perspiration during an eight-hour sleep. And since polyester doesn't absorb moisture effectively, well, you get the picture. Consider sleeping in 100% natural fiber sheets. They are designed to absorb moisture and help your body "breathe." Of course, you'll need to wash the sheets every few days but it's well worth it. One more tip: before you slip into your natural fiber sheets, take a quick, cool bath or shower.
Get a Fan
Perspiration is your body's way of cooling itself down. But if the air in your bedroom is humid or moist, your sweat won't evaporate. It will stay, or rather stick, on you. Get yourself a small, inexpensive fan and put it next to your bed. Box fans work great and at a slow setting, the gentle hum can also help you drift off to dreamland.
Stay Hydrated
Your body came designed with the perfect built-in cooling system. But it needs constant re-hydrating to operate at maximum efficiency. Be sure to drink lots of water during the day and into the evening. It's a simple way to help keep from getting overheated at night. And remember: sugary drinks, sodas, alcohol and caffeine can actually dehydrate you. Stick to H2O.
Dress the Part
In wintertime, it's great to snuggle up in woolen jammies and turn up the electric blanket. In summertime, you need a whole different strategy. Wear light, natural fabrics like 100% cotton for breathability (no synthetics please!) and lose the socks. When you first get into bed, lie there without a sheet and let your body cool down. Then pull up just the sheet (natural fabric is best) and acclimatize to that. Of course, you can always sleep with nothing on. That‘s another good reason to pull the drapes!
Get a Cool Mattress
Mattresses have changed a lot over the past few years. As Americans have become more concerned about their general well-being, the mattress makers have responded with new products that offer both high-tech and high-touch benefits. A good quality Memory Foam mattress can actually dissipate heat as you sleep and help keep you at your ideal sleeping temperature. You can even get matching Memory Foam pillows so your entire body can beat the heat. How cool is that?
Sources:
How to Sleep on a Hot Night
Sleeping cool on hot nights
5 Summer Sheet Tips for Cool Sleeping
Tips to keep the house cool on a hot day
ComforPedic by Simmons™
Summer's heat can put a damper on a good night's sleep. Here are some things you can do to achieve and maintain your ideal sleeping temperature. Because better sleep at night means more summer fun the next day.
Summer is heating up and that means family picnics, ball games at the park and sun-filled days at the pool. For too many of us, however, it can also mean hot, sticky and uncomfortable nights in bed. Try as we may, we just can't seem to get good quality sleep in the summertime. So, what can we do about it? Here are a few useful tips to help you sleep cooler in the heat of summer.
Set the Scene
You make sure your kitchen is all prepped for cooking, your dining room for eating and your bathroom for getting yourself ready everyday but what about your bedroom? There's a lot you can do during the day to help you sleep cooler at night. Did you know that some 40% of the heat that gets in your house comes in via window glass? So start by pulling the drapes, shutters or blinds and keep your bedroom dark and cool. If you don't have shades or curtains, use blankets to cover the windows. You'll be amazed how much difference they can make. If you have a ceiling fan, set it to run counter-clockwise. That way, it pulls the hot air up toward the ceiling.
Spring for Natural Sheets
The average person gives off about a pint of perspiration during an eight-hour sleep. And since polyester doesn't absorb moisture effectively, well, you get the picture. Consider sleeping in 100% natural fiber sheets. They are designed to absorb moisture and help your body "breathe." Of course, you'll need to wash the sheets every few days but it's well worth it. One more tip: before you slip into your natural fiber sheets, take a quick, cool bath or shower.
Get a Fan
Perspiration is your body's way of cooling itself down. But if the air in your bedroom is humid or moist, your sweat won't evaporate. It will stay, or rather stick, on you. Get yourself a small, inexpensive fan and put it next to your bed. Box fans work great and at a slow setting, the gentle hum can also help you drift off to dreamland.
Stay Hydrated
Your body came designed with the perfect built-in cooling system. But it needs constant re-hydrating to operate at maximum efficiency. Be sure to drink lots of water during the day and into the evening. It's a simple way to help keep from getting overheated at night. And remember: sugary drinks, sodas, alcohol and caffeine can actually dehydrate you. Stick to H2O.
Dress the Part
In wintertime, it's great to snuggle up in woolen jammies and turn up the electric blanket. In summertime, you need a whole different strategy. Wear light, natural fabrics like 100% cotton for breathability (no synthetics please!) and lose the socks. When you first get into bed, lie there without a sheet and let your body cool down. Then pull up just the sheet (natural fabric is best) and acclimatize to that. Of course, you can always sleep with nothing on. That‘s another good reason to pull the drapes!
Get a Cool Mattress
Mattresses have changed a lot over the past few years. As Americans have become more concerned about their general well-being, the mattress makers have responded with new products that offer both high-tech and high-touch benefits. A good quality Memory Foam mattress can actually dissipate heat as you sleep and help keep you at your ideal sleeping temperature. You can even get matching Memory Foam pillows so your entire body can beat the heat. How cool is that?
Sources:
How to Sleep on a Hot Night
Sleeping cool on hot nights
5 Summer Sheet Tips for Cool Sleeping
Tips to keep the house cool on a hot day
ComforPedic by Simmons™
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