I run hot, all the time, always. I also really hate to sweat. Summer is a nightmare for me, and I’m totally in my element sometime around mid-January. Consequently, I know what it's like to sweat when you sleep, and the bedtime hacks for staying cool and comfortable at night while I sleep have kept me free of one of the worst feelings in the world — waking up around 3 a.m., feeling like my bed is an oven.
Tons of people run hot and sweaty during the night, and that’s because your core temperature fluctuates with your circadian rhythm. However, just because it’s common doesn’t mean keeping your body cool on hot nights isn't possible. In actuality, a higher body temperature tells your brain that it should be alert and awake, and a lower body temperature helps you to feel drowsy and tired.
Consequently, it’s better to keep your room cool and airy right before bed and throughout the night, regardless of whether you’re a hot sleeper or a cool one. Not only does keeping cool before bed help you to fall asleep faster, but it allows you to reach a deeper and more restorative sleep. Not sure how to keep yourself cool and comfortable overnight, even without AC? Check out these innovative and effective tips for a chilly night’s sleep, regardless of the season.
Pick Bamboo For Your Bed Sheets
Bamboo Four Piece Silky Soft Bed Sheets , $38, Amazon
Fabrics made from bamboo aren’t just softer and much better for those with allergies — they’re also way more lightweight and cooling. These bamboo four piece silky soft bed sheets are super durable, but feel silky smooth against your skin at night. They come in 12 different colors for full, queen, and king beds, and the whole set features a fitted sheet, a loose sheet, and two pillowcases. Reviewers cannot stop raving about these sheets, and words like “soft, silky, smooth, cool, and comfortable” are all over the reviews.
Line Your Pillow With A Cooling Gel PAD
Deluxe Comfort Cooling Pillow Pad, $24, Amazon
If you want a gel pad for your pillow that’s always cool to the touch, check out Deluxe Comfort's gel pad. It can be used on top of your pillow or under your body to stay comfortably chilled all night long, and it’s one of the most durable pads out there, so no leaks or messes. It’s soft, comfortable, and great for everything from migraines to hot flashes.
Memory Foam Is Hot, But Bamboo Is Not
Original Bamboo Cooling Pillow , $23, Amazon
Sensing a trend here? This bamboo memory foam cooling pillow is one of the coolest pillows you’ll ever own. Not only is it hypoallergenic and extremely comfortable, but the outer fabric keeps your head and neck from overheating all night long. It’s got shredded memory foam inside that contours to your body, and it’s great for side, back, or stomach sleepers. It feels like a cloud, and it’s as light, cool, and airy as one, too.
Deliver A Steady Flow Of Cool Mist Alongside Your Essential Oils
TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier , $27, Amazon
This TaoTronics cool mist humidifier delivers calming, cool air to your bedroom with its eight-hour capacity water tank, but when it runs out, the auto-off feature keeps you safe. It also has a seven-color LED light option, and can be used alongside your favorite cooling essential oils (like eucalyptus or peppermint) to keep you chill, comfortable, and relaxed.
Stay Safe And Chilly Without Blades While You Sleep
VORCOOL Mini Bladeless Fan , $25, Amazon
This miniature VORCOOL bladeless fan is a great solution to hot and muggy nights, as it creates a strong airflow without any blades at all, ensuring a safe and comfortable sleep. It makes minimal noise and sits right on your bedside table to create a constant source of airflow in your bedroom. It’s effective, sleek-looking, and keeps you cool without any irritating noises.
Find Your Quick-Cooling Temperature Spots
Fitglam Pure Silk Cold Therapy Sleep Mask , $13, Amazon
Your cheekbones are one of your body’s quick-cooling temperature spots. For a lightweight and temperature-savvy way to keep out any brightness, there’s the Fitglam pure silk cold therapy sleep mask. It’s made from super smooth mulberry silk on both sides, and it comes with a gel insert that can be popped in the refrigerator for a few hours to deliver a chill to your face and eyes while you sleep. It’s been called “the best sleep mask ever” by reviewers because it’s versatile, comfortable, adjustable, keeps the light out, and feels like you’re wearing nothing at all.
Cool Down Your Whole Body With A Gel Mattress Topper
ViscoSoft Cooling Gel-Infused Memory Foam Mattress Topper (2 in., Queen) , $99, Amazon
You can slip a small pad between your pillow and its case to cool your face, but what about the rest of your body? This two-inch mattress topper's memory foam cushions your pressure points, while its silica gel works steadily throughout the night to help your body maintain an ideal sleeping temperature throughout the night. Many reviewers are saying that after trying numerous others, this gel pad was the one that actually regulated their temperature.
Block Out Light And Heat In The Early Morning
Regal Home Collections Thermal Blackout Curtains , $18, Amazon
I’ve got a bedroom that faces east, and all might be well and good at night, but the second the sun rises, I’m boiling. These Regal Home Collections thermal blackout curtains are an inexpensive and effective way to keep the cool in and the heat (and light) out. They’re made from a heavy, durable woven polyester that’s both beautiful and energy efficient, and reviewers say that these are a total game changer, because they cannot believe how much they helped with temperature and light control in their house.
Apply A Cooling Lotion Right Before Bed
Natural Escapes Peppermint & Menthol Cooling Cream , $15, Amazon
This peppermint and menthol cooling cream is made with great ingredients and essential oils that cool your skin and muscles from the inside out. It’s an awesome before-bed lotion for hot nights because it moisturizes skin, absorbs quickly and easily, and leaves a cool tingle on your body that, unlike unnatural brands, won’t sting or irritate. People also love it after a workout, or on burns and infections.
SEND The Airflow Right INTO Your Mattress
The Bed Fan Cooling System , $369, Amazon
This innovative and effective cooling solution is made specifically for nighttime relief, as it delivers a steady stream of cool air into your mattress while you sleep. The device harnesses the available air in your room and uses it to pull moisture and body heat from your skin, leaving you cooler within 10 seconds. It's more effective than a standard fan and you don't have to hassle with cords, wires or tubes on the mattress. It's a pricier option but if you're someone who never sleeps well because you're always too hot, it may be worth the investment.
Sleep In Something Lightweight And Loose-Fitting
MAXMODA Women's Sweetness Lace Pajama Set (Sizes Small-XXL) , $8-$20, Amazon
If you tend to toss and turn because of the heat, these pajamas might just fix that. They’re super lightweight and soft because they’re made from 95 percent polyester, which is makes them a great set for hot summer nights. They’re durable, stretchy, and super comfortable. On top of that, they come in six different designs and sizes.
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Images: Fotolia (1); Amazon (11)
