8 Tips to Getting Restful Sleep in the Heat

As the fifth heat wave of the summer continues to roll on across the state, temperature records are getting shattered and many New Jersey residents are starting to feel restless. The heat combined with the humidity make things more difficult, including sleep. Since most of us sleep best in moderately cool rooms, these hot summer nights can be pretty frustrating. But don’t sweat it, we’re here to help during any heatwave! These tips, trick and hacks will help get restful sleep in the heat and find some relief.

Cool as a Cucumber: How to Get Restful Sleep in the Heat

1. The obvious solution to keep your cool (and REM-ful sleep) is with the air conditioner. Research has shown that there seems to be an ideal temperature for sleep (roughly between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit) and when this temperature gets too high, it takes longer to fall asleep, and stay asleep. Schedule your thermostat to hit those optimal temps while you rest and you’ll sleep the whole night through!
2. Make sure your ceiling fan is turning in the right direction. Ceiling fans should be turning counter-clockwise and pushing the air down in the summer; which means if you can’t feel the breeze when you’re under it, you need to switch the direction the blades are turning. Also, as Good Housekeeping puts it, “ceiling fans cool people, not rooms,” so only use the one in your bedroom while you’re actually sleeping and turn it off when you walk out the door.
3. Pull the hot air out of your home by turning on the exhaust fan in the kitchen when cooking (or choose to grill instead of using the stove) and in the bathroom during a shower. Speaking of shower, opt for a tepid, refreshing rinse instead of a long, hot steamy shower so you can hit the hay feeling cool and clean.
4. The Sleep Foundation recommends to do whatever you can to prevent excessive heat build-up in your sleep environment. So, keep curtains closed during the day to keep the sunlight out. Up to 30 percent of unwanted heat comes from your windows, and utilizing shades, curtains and the like can save you up to 7 percent on your bills and lower indoor temperatures by up to 20 degrees.
5. Replace incandescent lights for CFLs. If you ever needed motivation to make the switch to CFLs, or compact fluorescent lamps, now’s the time. Incandescent bulbs waste about 90 percent of their energy in the heat they emit; ditch them to make a difference in cooling your home while lowering your electric bill at the same time.
6. Need to cool down, fast? Apply ice packs or cold compresses to pulse points at the wrists, neck, elbows, groin, ankles, and behind the knees to chill out stat.
7. Ditch the comforter and choose breathable cotton sheets. For these hot summer months, rid your bed of anything extra that can contribute to uncomfortable heat. This includes stuffed animals, extra pillows, sheets, and blankets. Pack them away in storage for winter and sleep on light sheets only for more Z’s.
8. Become a minimalist by wearing less clothing to bed and keep livin’ easy. Choose light, breathable jammies that won’t cling to you while you dream. And if you’re feeling daring, you can even sleep in the nude. Whatever you choose, when it comes to sleepwear, remember, less equals more Z’s for you. Additionally, disconnect electronics before bed to save you from some of the extra heat.

Emergency AC Service from Point Bay

At Point Bay, we’re not just an oil company! When we say we are a “full service” company, we mean it. Not only do we offer services on Home Heating Oil, but also Heating, Air Conditioning and Installations.

Our service department is made up of highly trained professionals that have received the best possible training in regards to servicing, troubleshooting, maintaining, and replacing your heating and cooling equipment. Contact us at (732) 349-5059 to learn more and rest easy.