Hi all! It’s getting powerful-warm out there now in most parts of the U.S., so today I’m starting a 3-part series on sleeping during the summer months.
People generally prefer sleeping in a dark, quiet, cool environment. This can be a challenge in the summertime, when it’s sweltering at night, it’s light out late, and there’s always some loud party going on late near your home.
Today we’ll tackle the issue of the summer warmth.
Many of us recognize that it can be difficult to fall and stay asleep if it’s uncomfortably warm or hot in your bedroom. The common-sense advice here is to do what you can to maintain a cool sleeping environment to the extent that you can, particularly during the first half of the night: outside temperatures naturally continue to fall until just prior to dawn due to an increasing duration of absent direct sun exposure, and our bodies naturally cool (i.e., our core body temperatures gradually fall) the longer we sleep at night. As such, it’s a good idea to concentrate on how comfortable you are with the room temperature at bedtime.
Some brief tips to sleep a little better in the summer:
1. Use your air conditioner. I understand the desire to save $ on your utility bills–I share that desire–but I suggest not skimping on the air conditioning (if you have it) if you’re miserable in bed night after night.
2. Invest in a fan. Large room fans can be inexpensive (particularly if purchased off-season), and the convective effect of the circulating air can make a big difference.
3. Take a shower or bath prior to bedtime. Using cool water may reduce your core body temperature. For some, however, a warm shower or bath prior to bedtime makes your bedroom temperature “feel” cooler by the time you get into bed. Experiment to see what makes you most comfortable.
4. Consider your bedsheets and pajamas. This is very individually dependent, but you can obviously reduce the amount of body coverage in bed to cool things down. The cloth materials you use can also make a difference: you can be bothered by not only the heat, but also the degree to which you’re wet and sweaty in bed. I suggest using materials that “breathe” and absorb or wick away moisture: in general natural materials, like cotton, are considered better at this than synthetic.
5. Sleep in the basement. If you can’t do anything about the heat in your bedroom, migrating to a cool, dark underground basement may make all the difference during summer months.
6. If you use CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) for obstructive sleep apnea, you can turn down your heated humidity and utilize as small a mask interface as possible.
Next up: how to keep your bedroom dark. This is more important than you may think.
Cheers all, and stay cool this summer!
