10 Effective tips to help you sleep better when it’s too hot

MF editorial team

27 Jun 2017

1/10
Eat lightly
It would be pointless to remind you to hydrate properly – you should know by now how important staying hydrated is! But on top of that, pick cold and light dishes such as salads, fruits and vegetables in order to ease digestion in the night, which is essential for a peaceful, uninterrupted sleep. Moreover, eating a simple meal will keep you from turning on the stove, therefore saving you from generating more heat in the house.
2/10
Take a tepid shower
Before going to sleep, take time for a nice room temperature shower. Not only will it lower your body temperature, it will also help you get rid of the frustrating sticky-skin feeling. For even more effectiveness, go to bed without drying yourself. But be careful, if you make your shower too cold, it will slow down your digestion and may prevent your body from regulating its temperature. During the night, you might also want to use a face mist to refresh key zones like your forehead, wrists and ankles.
3/10
Moisten your room
The best way to relish in a cool night is to spend it in a ‘moist’ room. To achieve this, there are various techniques:

- An old-school hack consisting of hanging a wet (wrung) towel by the window. Through evaporation, the water will soften the heat.

- If you have a small table fan, place a frozen bottle of water in front of it. By doing this, the circulated air will be even cooler.

- Spray some water on your curtains. Each time the wind blows, your room will get cooler.
4/10
Go to bed later
When it is very warm, we tend to wake up several times during the night. Therefore, going to bed later may tire you out enough so that you sleep through these periods.
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Beware of air-conditioning
Be careful, the air-conditioner is a fake friend to combat the heat. On the spot, it may seem like a blissful way to cool down, but it doesn’t go without long-term consequences. Your air-con can be responsible for headaches and sore throats in the morning. Same applies to strong-blowing fans. To limit such negative effects, avoid turning them in your direction during the night, but orientate them towards a window. This technique will also help you ventilate your room better.
6/10
Favour cotton bed sheets
Banish silk, satin and synthetic bed sheets. These trap heat. Choose soft cotton covers that don’t stick as much to your skin. Contrary to what we would think, sleeping naked isn’t the best solution. Bare skin doesn’t get rid of sweat, whereas a thin cotton t-shirt and shorts will help to absorb it.
7/10
Sleep on the floor
Heat rises. Therefore, if you’re lucky enough to live in a big house, sleep on a lower level (like the ground floor). And if your bed is quite high, put the mattress on the floor on really warm nights.
8/10
The Egyptian technique
This old-school method is simply about using a damp sheet as a cover. Soak a thin bedsheet in water, then wring it so that it doesn’t drip. Use it as your blanket. This is ideal for refreshing your body, especially if you have a fever.
9/10
Prepare a warm drink
Just like cold showers, drinks that come straight from the fridge aren’t the right solution. It is better to prepare a healthy infusion of hot tea or hot milk to regulate your body temperature.
10/10
Unplug electronic devices
Everything involving electricity obviously increases the room's temperature. Get used to turning off electronic devices that won’t be useful to you while you sleep (laptops, smartphone chargers, bedside lamps).

Here in tropical Southeast Asia, the heat never seems to want to go away! In order to enjoy fresh nights, follow our 10 foolproof tips on snoozing comfortably in the heat.

Living in Southeast Asia, you must admit sleeping is sometimes a pain because of the overwhelming heat of our oppressive tropical weather. With the high amount of moisture in the air causing us to sweat at the barest amount of physical strain, things aren’t made easier for us. Changing the settings of the air-conditioner, increasing the speed of the fan, trying dozens of different positions… it can sometimes take you hours to find a restful sleeping position.

Find yourself in such a conundrum each night? Don’t sweat it, we’ll help you out. Head up to the gallery above for some quick tips on foolproof techniques to sleep well in warm temperatures.

Laura Gabrielli (Translated by Mathilde Virantin)

Photos: Getty Images

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