We all prey for sunshine then moans when it gets here, but we’re entitled to! These heatwaves are extreme weather, it’s not a comfortable sunny day we’re talking about, it’s a sweat inducing, sticky, dizzy, hell that makes me wonder why we’re not building houses with air con in the UK. I was talking to John Matthews about this, our new American intern. He lives in West Virginia. Their weather is much like ours. All four seasons, cold winters with snow, and temperatures that don’t go above 30 degrees celsius. Yet every home has air conditioning. Every. Single. One.
Maybe it’s due to the cost of electricity right now but something needs to change.
In the meantime, we were sent some strange tips from Comfy Beds and a couple surprised us so I had to share. I’m not sure about number two on this list but if you try it, please let me know. Take a look at our best fans article too and let me help you cool down during this heatwave.
Britain’s not dealing well with the heatwave this week, with many people struggling to sleep; although the post-work beer gardens have certainly helped.
The moment the sun decides to actually show up, we’re left lying awake in a puddle of our own sweat, staring at the ceiling at 2am while the rest of the world seemingly sleeps just fine.
Sleep experts say that our bodies genuinely struggle to drift off when it’s warm, because we need our core temperature to drop in order to fall asleep.
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Dr Deborah Lee, sleep expert from Doctor Fox working with Comfybedss, discusses five unique ways of getting to sleep in the heat, without having to use a fan:
Tip 1: Try the “cold water bottle” trick
“The ‘cold water bottle’ trick isn’t just taking a cold bottle of water to bed to sip on, it’s a method many people do to cool down their bed before getting into it.
Fill your hot water bottle up with cold water and put it in the freezer for around 15-minutes before bed, and you’ll be getting into bed with cool linen rather than a dreaded heat trap. It’s a simple swap that makes a genuinely big difference.”
Tip 2: Sleep in damp socks
“This is an extremely strange one, but definitely hear me out. Wearing a pair of slightly damp cotton socks to bed can help us bring our core body temperature down through a process called evaporative cooling.
Our feet play a huge part in helping our body’s temperature regulate, so keeping them cool is vital and has a knock on effect on the whole body. Rinse the socks out under the tap, wring them up so they’re not dripping and pop them on before bedtime.”
Tip 3: Keep everything closed
“This is an absolute must-do throughout the day in all rooms but especially the bedrooms. Curtains, blinds and even windows are recommended to be kept closed as much as possible.
It may not seem like it, but more often than not inside your house will be the coolest place to be. Keep the warm air and sunlight out of your kids’ rooms at least until the sun goes down, then look to let some fresh air in.”
Tip 4: Change when you shower
“Ensure that you shower before bed, but around an hour and a half before bed rather than just before.
A lukewarm shower will help kickstart the natural temperature drop that your body needs to fall asleep.
Many people think a cold shower before bed is the key, but this can actually be counterproductive, causing your body to work harder to warm back up again.”
Tip 5: Sleep like the Egyptians
“This one has been used for centuries, and there’s a good reason people are still doing this today.
The Egyptian method involves soaking a large towel in cool water, wringing it out and then hanging it either in your doorway or your bedroom window.
As the hot air passes through, the cold towel will change this to cold air, working in a similar way that air conditioning works but without the hefty electricity bill.
It won’t drop the temperature a lot, but it’ll make enough of a difference to your body that it’ll finally drift off.”
As Britain continues to see warmer summers, learning to sleep through the heat is becoming something of a necessary life skill.
The good news is that with a few clever tweaks to your evening routine, a good night’s sleep doesn’t have to go out of the window just because the temperature’s gone up. Sweet dreams!
