Trying to get to sleep when the weather is warm can be a real struggle, often resulting in hours of uncomfortable tossing and turning in bed.
The last thing you want to experience at this time is any extra heat, but a hot water bottle could surprisingly be all you need to stay cool and get a good night's rest.
That's according to sleep experts at Mattress Online, who have said that these can be used to lower your core body temperature if they're placed on a certain part of your body.
Using a hot water bottle might sound like a strange way to combat heat, but James the Sleep Geek recommends raising your core temperature slightly by placing a lukewarm hot water bottle on your feet thirty minutes before bed.
That way, when you go to sleep your core temperature will drop, allowing you to drift off more comfortably.
The experts understand the struggles of trying to get a good night's rest when the temperatures are high, so they've gathered together some other useful tips that are worth keeping in mind this summer.
Tips for sleeping in hot weather
Use separate covers from your sleeping partner
Use different covers if you are sleeping with a partner. When you're lying down together, their body heat will only transfer to you.
If you can, opt for separate covers, preferably in a thin cotton material in order to keep cool.
Avoid daytime naps
Hot weather can make us sleepy; as tempting as it is to have a daytime nap in the glorious sunshine, this isn't always the best idea.
Experts such as weather presenter Abbie Dewhurst and Doctor Azmain recommend saving your sleep for nighttime by staying in your normal routine and spending the whole day awake.
Put your feet in a bowl of lukewarm water
Much like a lukewarm hot water bottle, putting your feet in a bowl of tepid water offers a longer lasting cooling process.
It also avoids the shock of using ice-cold water, which can jar you awake and make it harder to get to sleep.
Open your loft hatch
Heat rises, meaning it will be hotter if your bedroom is on the top floor.
According to experts at Mattress Online, opening your loft hatch is one way to get rid of the accumulated hot air by allowing it to escape somewhere else.
Use aloe vera
Meteorologist Jodi Kodesh states that using aloe vera before bed can be even better than taking a cold shower because it absorbs into the body four times quicker than water.
Apply it to your skin just before bed for a cooling effect.
Shut out the sunlight
James states that one of the main things to help alleviate the comfort of a hot night’s sleep is to keep your house cool during the day.
To do this, ensure you are shutting out the sunlight, particularly in your bedroom, by keeping blinds and curtains closed.
Swap your sheets
Lastly, why not replace your sheets and pillowcases with ones made from natural materials such as linen, bamboo and cotton.
Not only are they soft and breathable - perfect for the summer heat - they also draw away moisture more effectively.
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