Don't have air con? Here are 5 tips for cooling off and getting some sleep during the heatwave Pexels

Don't have air con? Here are 5 tips for cooling off and getting some sleep during the heatwave Pexels

 

Take a cold shower

Cooling your core body temperature before bedtime and rinsing away sweat should set you up for a restful start to the night. You don’t need to go to extreme--an ice bath might just wake you up but tepid water should be enough to do the trick.

 

Choose natural

Opt for breathable natural fabrics like cotton or linen when it comes to choosing bedding or night clothes. It’s actually better to wear clothing than going commando as it helps the air to circulate around your skin.

 

Follow the Egyptians

Not having air conditioning, the ancient Egyptians adopted possibly the simplest sleeping solution. Dampen a sheet or towel and sleep with it over your body. You can also do the same with a T-shirt. The moisture will evaporate throughout the night and by morning the sheet, towel or T-shirt should be dry.

 

Freeze your hottie

You remember the hot water bottle? Great for keeping toasty in winter but it also serves as a quick coolant in summer. Just put some water in it and stick it in the freezer during the day. At bedtime, pop it in the bed and chill. Too young or tough to own a hot water bottle? Fill up a (prefereably clean) sock with rice and stick that in the freezer for a makeshift cold compress.

Keep the heat out

Close the curtains or shutters of your bedroom during the day to prevent the room from heating up. If that doesn’t work, find the coolest room in your home and make up a bed there. The ideal temperature to allow you to sleep is 17°C.