It is the month of February in South Africa, said to be the month of love, so temperatures are running high, not just for those in love, though, but for pretty much everyone, as it is also the peak of our summer.
One of the most irritating things about summer for many is the difficulty of sleeping well on hot summer nights, and we all know by now that good, restful, regular sleep is essential for mental and physical well-being.
For this reason, we thought it appropriate to examine why staying cool is essential for better sleep, and offer some ways to beat the heat with summer sleep solutions for South African homes…
Why do we need to ‘keep it cool’ at slumber time?
Before seeking solutions to issues, however, people generally want to know why they should. Well, let’s look at a few of the great benefits of keeping sleeping nice and cool.
Sleeping cool can give you better sleep quality, has excellent health benefits, and can even slow down your metabolism, adding the benefit of potential weight loss – now that’s really cool!
Here are a few other reasons and some potential solutions…
Comfort
Firstly, and very obviously, we feel more comfortable sleeping in a cooler room. There is nothing more aggravating than waking up soaked with sweat and fighting off mosquitoes.
Sleep solution – If you don’t have the luxury of air conditioning, you need to find other ways to cool the room. Before bedtime, let in any cool air that might be blowing from outside, and if there isn’t any, then have a fan blowing. Some people use water bottles filled with ice or cold water placed in front of the fan for a better effect.
Simply having a fan blowing while you sleep can also keep the mosquitoes away, but if it doesn’t, then ensure you use spray and/or mosquito repellent plugs. We in South Africa know that the buzz of mosquitoes is a surefire way to disturb sleep.
Make sure your room is well prepared by using light curtains and minimal thin cotton bedding. Your room temperature should be around 15-19°C.
Sufficient sleep time
This is absolutely crucial, and many people tend to settle for less sleep in summer because they don’t look forward to going to bed, or because the heat keeps them from falling asleep.
Sleep solution – Instead of wasting sleep time, prepare for bed with some cooling-down techniques. Experts advise taking a lukewarm shower or bath, or, if you can brave it, even a cold one, to lower your core body temperature.
Also, it is advised that you sleep in very light, comfortable clothing, or even in your birthday suit if that will do the trick! Drink cold water before bedtime and definitely avoid heavy meals, alcohol, and caffeine close to bedtime.
Wake up feeling great!
It’s all about waking up after a good, uninterrupted night’s sleep feeling just great. One way to ensure you will always do that is to sleep on a mattress that gives your body the comfort and support you need every night, in all kinds of weather. Some mattresses, it is said, like Truform mattresses, even contain elements that can help you feel cooler.
Talk to us about your mattress requirements today, because we don’t only help you tobeat the heat with summer sleep solutions for South African homes, we also supply affordable, high-quality mattresses that keep many thousands of South Africans sleeping beautifully all year round!