Too Hot to Sleep? How To Keep Cool in bed during the UKs Heatwave!

While high-end temperatures are a warm welcome for us sun-starved Brits, steamy nights and baking bedrooms do little to lull us to sleep. 

The temperature of your room and your body have a significant impact on your sleep, so getting these 2 things right is worth the effort.

What is the ideal temperature for your bedroom?

The temperature of your room can also affect your core temperature. In general, around 16 to 18 degrees Celsius is the ideal room temperature for sleeping. Why? Because, this range is what best suits your core during the middle of the night.

How to sleep on a hot night

Now that you understand why a cool room is better for sleeping, the most obvious solution is to blast the air-con all night long and sink into a deep and peaceful slumber. But just imagine the giant energy bill every month! Not to mention that it’s not too environmentally-friendly either.

But don’t sweat- there are other ways.

Here are some DIY tricks to keep you cool during the summer heat for a great night’s sleep, without blowing the budget.

1. Open the windows

If your room is warmer than outside, leave the windows open at night to let in a fresh breeze. Night air tends to get cooler in the early hours. The fresh air can help keep the temperature down and stop your room from feeling stuffy.

2. Get a fan

Fans are generally cheaper to run than air-con. Have one on all night to keep the air gently moving. It can draw heat out of the room and even push it out the open window.

3. Create your own air con!

Put a bowl of ice cubes in front of the fan. The breeze will slowly waft the melting cold vapour from the surface of the ice, generating a delicious, cooling mist.

4. Drink more water

Drink a glass of chilled water before bed to get your body hydrated and cool, and replenish water loss due to sweating.

5. Have a warm shower before bed – sounds crazy but it helps!

If you’re feeling hot before heading to bed, have a warm shower. Why not have a cold one? Because your body will hijack your efforts by quickly decreasing blood flow to your skin. A few minutes later when the blood flow starts up again, you’ll feel hot again. A warm shower will increase blood flow to your skin and increase heat loss from your body.

6. Grab the ice – cold water bottles!

Dig out your hot water bottle and fill it with water and pop it in the freezer for a bed-friendly solution. If you are struggling with heat, grab some ice and wrap it in a tea towel and place it in the bed wherever it feels comfortable.

7. A damp compress

An oldie but a goodie to help your body shed some extra degrees at night is to simply moisten a towel or cloth. Put it on your forehead or body.

8. Less light, more darkness

Bulbs give off heat which you don’t want when trying to get a good night’s sleep. It stays lighter much later during summer, so take advantage and try to keep light usage to a minimum.

9. Turn off the electronics, too

Similar to turning off the lights, it’s equally beneficial to turn off the electronics too. Devices like your smart phone give off heat and light that aren’t conducive to a good night’s sleep.

10. Store those blankets

While blankets are great during the colder nights, keeping them on the bed simply out of habit can make you sweat throughout the night. This can disrupt your sleep as your body struggles to drop its temperature. Store them in a cupboard until it cools down again.

11. Freeze your sheets

Don’t knock it till you try it! Fold your sheets into a plastic bag and pop them in the freezer while you brush your teeth before bed. Don’t leave them there too long, but long enough to cool them right down. Then put them onto your bed to give you temporary relief as you try and settle down for the night.

12. Invest in a good bed

A high-quality mattress often can dissipate your body heat much more effectively than other alternatives, which means that it helps your core reach the ideal temperatures for the best sleep. Check out Bradfords beds range!

13. Keep your distance

While it’s comfortable to snuggle up to your partner on colder nights, when it’s hot, getting too close will share body temperatures and hold the heat between you for much longer.

Keeping a bit further apart is better when you’re trying to keep cool.

14. Telling your pets “off!”

Do you share your bed with your pets? The fewer bodies in the bedroom to heat it up, the better!

15. Wear loose cotton nightwear

Loose, soft cotton pyjamas can help keep you cooler by dissipating the heat, just like cotton sheets do. They allow for air flow and breathability, while absorbing excess sweat from your skin.

16. Spread out

Sleep like a starfish! Stretch out across the bed with your arms and legs wide. It’s a really simple and easy way to keep your temperature down by increasing air circulation around your limbs and reducing sweating.