It might still be spring, but the summer heat is already creeping up on us! All that warm weather might be great for beach vacations or lounging by the pool, but it’s not much fun when you’re trying to get to sleep. When temperatures start rising, you might need to take some extra steps to keep sleeping soundly. That’s why we’ve put together a few tips to help you keep cool during those long summer nights!
Choose the Right Sheets
Not all sheets are created equal, and not all sheets are right for every season. In the winter, covering your bed with soft, dense flannel sheets is a great way to keep warm, but in the summer, you’ll want light, breathable fabrics. Cotton, linen, and bamboo sheets are all great choices for the warm season, so invest in a good set and ditch those heavy winter fabrics.
Turn Down the Heat
Even low-energy lights can amp up your home’s temperature, so try to keep lighting and other heat sources off as much as possible. Make use of these long summer days for your afternoon light, and try sticking to candles or small lamps in the evening.
Similarly, try to avoid making dinner on the stovetop during the hottest days of the season. Trust us, no matter what you’re making, you’re not going to be able to enjoy your meal after you’ve spent half an hour sweating over the stove! Plus, all that heat is going to stay in your home, keeping temperatures way too high when you try to go to bed.
Create a Cross Breeze
Putting a fan in your room is the first thing most people try as summer gets closer, but it’s important to get your placement right! Be sure to position your fan directly across from an open window instead of just blowing onto your bed. With a cross breeze from both sources, you can maximize the airflow in your room and keep temperatures lower.
If you really want to get chilly with it, you can create your own makeshift AC with a damp towel and a bowl of ice. Hang up a damp towel in the window and set a metal bowl of ice right in front of the fan. This creates a chilly, Arctic breeze that will keep you cool long after you drift off to sleep.
Chill Out
If your sheets still have you in a sweaty bind every morning, try sticking them in the freezer for an hour or so before bedtime! It might sound strange, but chilling your sheets is an incredibly effective – if unorthodox – method of keeping cool. Just fold them up, seal them in a plastic bag to keep them from getting damp, and let them soak up that cold air. When you put them back on your bed, you’ll stay cool the whole time you’re dozing off!
Get a Cooling Mattress
Memory foam mattresses are great for keeping your back aligned and giving you an excellent night of sleep, but some people report sleeping hotter when they use them during the summer. New gel foam technologies are putting that problem in the past.
Many newer memory foam mattresses come equipped with a layer of foam made of a cooling gel that promotes breathability and helps keep you cool. All the comfort and benefits of foam, none of the sweaty, sleepless nights!
Summertime doesn’t have to mean a season of tossing and turning through the night! If you make these simple steps part of your bedtime routine, you’ll be keeping cool and sleeping better all summer long. And if your keep-cool plan includes upgrading your mattress to a more breathable, summer-friendly model, give us a call! We’re your source for all things sleep, whether you’re ready to buy or just wondering how to catch a few more Zzz’s. Stop by before summer hits, so we can help keep you sleeping soundly through this season – and all the others too.