While we are excited about the warmer weather there is no doubt that the hot weather can really affect our sleep cycles.
According to an sleep study conducted by Philips in 201962 percent of people have trouble sleeping during warmer weather.
“The problem with sleeping in the heat is that to get a good night’s sleep, you need to lose about one degree of body temperature at night,” says sleep expert Neil Stanley, author of How to sleep well?†
“Usually this is not a problem and in regular weather this happens naturally because we lose heat from our head and face throughout the night. But when the temperature heats upit is harder for our bodies to move this heat and so we have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.”
Nick Littlehalesa sleep coach from some of the world’s biggest sports stars says that another reason we struggle to sleep in the heat is that we’re just not used to it.
“The natural circadian rhythms of the day — the process of sunrise and sunset — are about moving from a normal body temperature to a cooler environment when the sun disappears,” he explains. “If you’re exposed to heat all day and late at night, that warm temperature is counterintuitive to falling asleep.”
“We are the least prepared country when it comes to dealing with weather fluctuations,” says Neil Stanley.
So what is the solution during a heat wave†
How to get the most sleep during a heat wave in the UK?
1. Buy a home and office fan
“Invest in a large, floor-standing fan or just use your desk fan,” says Neil. “This allows cool air to circulate around the room, cooling you down. Or better yet, put a pack of frozen peas in front of the fan so you get an icy blast of cold air.”
“I knew an athlete who would put two liter bottles of water in the freezer, put them in a bowl in front of a fan, and let the fan blow over the cold bottles. It seemed to work for him,” Nick says.
If you don’t already have one, we recommend checking out our guides for: the best fans and portable air conditioners.
2. Avoid Drinking Alcohol
As tempting as it is to cool off with a few cold beers or cocktails after a hot sunny day, limit yourself; “In addition to being high in calories that require body heat to burn, too much alcohol in the evening will leave you dehydrated, hot, irritable, and sticky, which isn’t conducive to a good night’s sleep,” says Neil.
Spending too much time in the sun can lead to heat stroke – here’s: how do you recognize signs of heat stroke?†