We never seem to be properly prepared for a spell of hot weather, and too many people are still sweltering under duvets or lying on memory foam mattresses or toppers. So here are our six top tips for keeping cool and getting a good night’s sleep.
- Shower before going to bed. It’ll cool you down, remove the sweat and help you relax.
- Close your curtains, blinds or shutters for the part of the day when the sun shines on them, but if you’re able to, leave the windows open to allow any breeze to blow through. At night have as many windows open as you can to encourage the movement of air around the house.
- Not many houses come equipped with air conditioning so experiment with fans. A tip from a friend in the US is to fill a couple of empty plastic bottles with water and freeze them, then put them to stand in front of the fan.
- Don’t eat a big meal late at night, in fact the earlier you can eat the better. Digesting food raises your body temperature, especially if you’re a big meat eater. Salads and cold meats are a better option, and you’re not adding heat to the house by using a stove. Heat rises and ends up in your bedroom!
- If you’ve got a memory foam topper take it off your bed. Memory foam traps your body heat and isn’t breathable so you’ll get very hot and sticky. The best materials to lie on and under are natural materials, so use cotton sheets and order a mattress made with natural organic materials!
- Stay hydrated. Drink lots of cold water but restrict the alcohol, it can cause hot flushes and skin sweats.
