16 Ways To Stay Cool When Sleeping [Infographic]

We’re not really used to warm weather here in the UK, so when we get it, many of us find it difficult to stay cool at night. Most of us have experienced long nights tossing and turning in the heat, our sheets sticking to us and the heat impossible to avoid. So, finding ways to keep cool in bed so that we can get our recommended six-to-nine hours of sleep becomes our chief concern, the cool side of the pillow becoming our firm friend night after night.

To help you get through hot summer nights stress-free, we’ve identified 16 ways to keep cool while you sleep:

Here’s a text friendly version of this infographic:

16 ways to stay cool when sleeping

We all look forward to the long days and hot sun of summer. But the sweaty, sleepless nights? That’s another matter. If a fan, open window or air conditioning unit just won’t do, here are some other ways you can beat the heat.

1. Keep a cool head

Swap your large fluffy pillow for a small and firm replacement. Your head is one of the hottest parts of your body, and a fluffy pillow will further contain the heat.

2. Stay low

Move to a low level – or the floor. Heat rises, so the lower you are, the cooler you’ll be.

3. Use a cool cloth

Freeze a damp washcloth (flannel) and take it with you to bed. It’ll keep you cool as you fall asleep.

4. Upgrade your sheets

Allow your bed to breathe. Light-coloured, lightweight linens are best at keeping a bed ventilated.

5. Keep comfy

Wear loose cotton sleepwear in bed. Some people prefer to sleep au naturel, but we’ll leave that decision up to you.

6. Keep air flowing

Create a cross breeze over your bed. Face a fan towards an open window with your bed in-between.

7. Freeze a bottle

Fill a hot water bottle and freeze for a bed-friendly icepack.

8. Try damp hair

Go to bed with damp hair to keep yourself cooler throughout the night – if you don’t mind a bit of moisture. A cool shower before bed will do wonders to rinse off any clamminess and help you feel fresh and clean.

9. Hang out

Sleep in a hammock. Hanging mid-air will allow for better airflow to take your heat away.

10. Ice your fan

Fill a bowl with ice cubes and place in front of a fan. The ice cubes will slowly melt dispersing a cool breeze.

11. Go Egyptian

Wrap yourself in a damp sheet while sleeping. Legends say ancient Egyptians used this technique to keep cool on hot nights.

12. Create a cool breeze

Cool the room by draping a damp sheet in front of an open window – the breeze will do the rest.

13. Eat strategically

Eating smaller meals more frequently will reduce the heat produced by metabolism – keeping you cooler at night. This is especially important in summer where light salads and high-water percentage meals will keep you hydrated.

14. Get cold feet

Dunk your feet into a bucket of cold water when feeling hot. Pulse points in our feet and ankles are sensitive to temperature, so you’ll cool down quickly.

15. Try rustic bedding

Swap your heat-trapping mattress for a modest bamboo or straw mat. Not as soft, but not as hot either.

16. Upgrade your mattress

Switch to a gel mattress. The thermo regulating properties of the TheraPur ActiGel range provides both aeration and comfort – perfect for a cool nights’ slumber.

Whether you’re freezing a water bottle or sleeping like an Egyptian – enjoy everything summer has to offer – including the warm nights.

If you love these tips, or have a suggestion of your own, let us know in the comments!