Get to sleep in the HEAT

Summer ruining your slumber? These tips will keep you cool and well rested

Light evenings, fun-filled holidays and that feel-good vitamin D make the sunny season a firm favourite for Brits, but trying to sleep when it’s hot can sometimes take the joy out of this time of year.

‘Humid nights cause people to wake more frequently, reducing sleep quality and quantity,’ says Alison Jones, sleep expert at mattress brand Sealy. ‘Warm temperatures reduce the time spent in slow-wave sleep and REM sleep – the stages when the body does critical work to rejuvenate and restore itself.’ Menopausal? Those stifling nights can feel even worse. And this lack of restful sleep can result in moodiness and difficulty concentrating the next day. Optimal sleep temperature is 16-18C, while menopausal women would benefit from a room temperature of 12C, says Simba’s sleep expert Hope Bastine. But summer nights are invariably warmer.

Luckily, there are plenty of easy ways you can beat those soaring temperatures, at home and abroad, and get a good night’s sleep. Our experts reveal how.

Clever ways to cool down

These summer-savvy tips will help lower your body temperature in time for bed

CREATE A DRAUGHT