Try these cool tips to beat the Summer heat for a great night’s sleep
Have you ever noticed that you sleep better in a room that’s cool? Well it’s true. When it’s hot in the house my humans toss and turn. Restless sleep and insomnia are often the result of sleeping in rooms that are too warm. The good news is that outside temperatures are often cooler at night, but that doesn’t always translate into the right conditions for a good, cool, restful sleep. Now that the weather is heating up I usually go and lay on the cool kitchen tiles or just hog one of the vents, but here are some tips my humans use for staying cool at night and waking up rested and ready to take on the dog days of Summer!
- Keep the room cool- The most important thing you can do is to keep your room cool. Of course the temperature set on your thermostat is the obvious solution, but in addition, there other things you can do to help as well to not only reduce the nighttime temperature but reduce your energy bill as well! The rooms inside your home heat up during the day and can act like a solar heater. Sunlight transfers heat to the objects in your room and they retain heat until you go to bed. A great way to remedy this situation is to install thick curtains in your room or blinds that can block out the sun during the day. A dark room that’s not absorbing heat from the sun will stay cooler during the day.
- Take a cool shower before you go to bed. Your body builds up heat during the day. A cool shower will cool your body down and help you get to sleep quicker. Make sure your shower is only slightly below your room temperature. A cold shower will actually stimulate your body increasing heat production and making you more alert.
- What you sleep on matters – Instead of thick comforters, try lighter cotton or silk bedding. These fabrics are cool and light and will help you stay more comfortable through the night.
- What you sleep in matters too- Choose cotton fabric not only for your sheets, but also for your gowns and pajamas.
- Cooling pillows- There are many on the market and they are excellent at helping you stay cool.
- Drink plenty of water during the day- Often, people feel hot because they are not properly hydrated. Drink plenty of water, not only will it help you stay cooler, but it will help you feel better in general.
- Make it dark- Light tends to give off the appearance of heat even when it’s not hot. To give your body a cool effect make sure you are sleeping in a dark room. Turn off all lights, and draw the curtains and blinds for proper sleep.
As I mentioned before, good air conditioning remains the best way to stay cool and comfortable for a good night’s sleep. Call my people at MK Russell and Abbott Heating and Air today, to schedule a tune up for your air conditioning system so you can beat the heat and wake up refreshed.