Heatwave coming to the UK: 5 expert tips on how to sleep when it’s hot

The experts at Mattress Online understand that sleeping in hot weather can be extremely challenging, but there are ways to make it more bearable. They partnered up with sleeping expert James Wilson, who put together 5 of his best tips to help you get a good night’s sleep in the heat.

James, also known as ‘The Sleep Geek’, says:

1. A Hot Water Bottle Can Help

We don’t need to be cold before bed, we need to be cooler. As you are winding down for bed, put your bare feet on a hot water bottle full of lukewarm water and this will include the slight drop in core temperature we need for sleep. If you do not have a hot water bottle, use a bowl of warm water.

2. Acceptance Is Key

One of the biggest problems with the hot weather is the tizz we get ourselves in when it comes to sleep. We tell ourselves “it is hot tonight, I won’t be able to sleep.” Guess what happens? This prophecy becomes true because we focus too much on the heat. Accept that sleep will be more difficult, try to stay calm about that fact and remind yourself, we live in the UK, it will be raining before you know it.

3. Don’t Put Stuff In The Freezer, Then In Your Bed

A common piece of advice you will see is to put your bedding, your pillow or your duvet (who has a freezer with enough space for a duvet?) in your freezer, and then put the frozen object in your bed. But this sudden cold will wake your body up. Not only that, a frozen thing will always melt which causes problems – the moisture it creates warms up, making you even hotter, and it leaves a wet patch in the bed, which nobody likes sleeping in.

4. Have A Separate Duvet Or Sheet To Your Partner

If you share a bed with someone else, and also share a duvet, your partner’s body heat could be making your sleep environment unbearably hot. Have separate duvets or sheets, based on your preference in terms of weight and material, and maybe try bamboo or silk products, which are great for absorbing and wicking away moisture.

5. Shade And Airflow Can Be Helpful

Managing the temperature in your house can be a stressful game of chess – we open and close windows, curtains and blinds to allow airflow, and prevent direct sunlight coming into the rooms.

Often the advice says to keep windows closed so the hot air doesn’t get in, which is based on how hotter countries deal with the heat. But our houses have not been built from breathable materials – for a newer house this might be true, but getting windows open when it is cooler, getting some airflow through the house where possible and closing blinds and curtains when there is direct sunlight on the room can be extremely helpful.

Remember, everyone’s body responds differently to heat, so it may take some experimentation to find the combination of techniques that work best for you.