There's nothing quite like spending long evenings outdoors during a Great British heatwave but drifting off at night during a scorcher isn't nearly so much fun.
Words of sleeping wisdom abound during such times, with a popular tip being to pop your favourite summer pyjamas or bed sheets straight into the fridge or freezer.
Many people swear by such advice, claiming that this measure helps chill them right down during clammy June nights when a cooling glass of water just won't cut it.
However, James Wilson, best known as The Sleep Geek, has urged people against following this particular sleep hack, claiming it will only serve to warm them up.
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Speaking previously with the Mirror, Wilson said: "When hot weather comes around there are some tips given out that may sound like they would work when actually they really really don’t.
"An example of this may be putting your bedding/pyjamas in the fridge or freezer or wearing wet socks to bed, but they both have the same problem.
"These approaches will add more moisture to your sleep environment and that moisture will heat up during the night.
"This means that although it may cool you down as you go to bed during the night this moisture will heat up and is likely to wake you as you come out of your sleep cycle.
"An alternative that works would be to have either a lukewarm bath or shower or put lukewarm water in a hot water bottle and rest the soles of your feet on it."
Wilson continued: "This helps raise your core temperature slightly which will then lead to a drop in core temperature.
"A drop in core temperature is an important part of the process of your body falling asleep and this approach is basically tricking your body into thinking it is cooler than it is.
"The reason we use lukewarm water rather than ice cold is that ice cold will shock your body, making it feel more active and more than likely prolonging the process of getting sleep."
Offering a few more effective tips of his own, Wilson advises maintaining good airflow throughout your home by opening windows on both sides to allow air to pass through.
He also suggested keeping blinds and curtains closed in rooms exposed to direct sunlight, with the shade helping to keep things cool.
If you've got a fan, then you could always position a bowl of chilled water in front of it in order to cool the air stream in your bedroom.
Wilson continued: "If you are using a cotton sheet ensure it is as low a thread count as possible as the higher the thread count, the less breathable it is.
"Cotton is okay in hot weather, although it isn’t that great at wicking the moisture away; I would suggest using bamboo. It has longer fibres so breathes better and doesn’t lint so people with skin conditions are not as aggravated – it is also lighter on the body."
Do you have a heatwave tip to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
