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The arrival of summer in the United Kingdom is a welcome experience, but long hot days and nights can have their downside. One of the biggest problems many people encounter during warmer weather is an inability to sleep at night, being kept awake by an unusually stuffy atmosphere. However, the good news is there are ways to ensure that you can get a better night’s sleep during warmer weather and heatwaves.

Stick to your routine

One of the main reasons why sleep is disrupted during warmer weather is because that extra heat tends to encourage people to change their routine, and a change in routine can cause disruptions to standard sleep patterns. It is a good idea to try and maintain normal routines and the normal bedtime even in warmer weather, including going through the usual pre-bedtime customs.

Use thin cotton sheets

If the weather is getting warmer, then it is also important to change your bedding accordingly. Duvet tog weights should be reduced and thin cotton sheets can be used as a covering if the nights are extremely hot. Body temperatures fall during the night regardless of how warm the room may feel, which is why it is common for people to suddenly feel cold when they wake up.

Why it is important to stay hydrated

It is crucial to stay hydrated during warmer weather. However, while it is important to drink plenty of water during the day, large amounts should not be consumed just before bedtime. While no one wants to wake up feeling dehydrated, extra bathroom trips in the small hours can also be a cause of sleep disruptions.

What not to drink

It is also important to avoid consuming too much extra alcohol or caffeine, the latter of which is often found in soft drinks, during warm weather. Caffeine is a stimulant for the central nervous system and will make it even more difficult to be able to fall asleep, while alcohol makes it more likely that you will wake up too early and also results in overall poorer sleep quality.

Relaxing

Difficulty with sleeping can result in anxiety, which will make it even more difficult to get sleep. If sleep seems a long way off, the best thing to do is to get up for a little while and do something that will have a calming effect on you, such as writing, reading or folding clothes. Then go back to bed and try again when you feel tired enough. Activities such as playing video games or using a mobile phone to check emails should be avoided, as these are very stimulating and will actually make it even less likely that you will be able to get to sleep.

Try not to nap in the day

Warmer weather can make you feel tired and lethargic during the day, due to more energy being used by the body in order to regulate its internal temperature. However, it is important to resist the temptation to take daytime naps, especially if you are suffering sleep disturbances at night.

Feeling tired and sleepy can be a precious gift during hotter weather, so it is a good idea to save such tiredness for bedtime.

Why shutters are important

With warmer weather becoming increasingly common in the UK, it is also a good idea to make sure that homes are properly equipped to deal with the rising temperature and to keep out the heat. Air conditioning can be very expensive to install and run, but one of the best ways to keep a home cool during warmer weather is to install blinds and shutters.

Shutters are a great way to make certain that a home will stay cool during the warmer months of the year, and will certainly make it easier to get a good night’s rest for those who find it difficult to sleep in hot weather. Shutters can reduce the temperature in rooms by between 8 to 13 degrees, according to BBSA research, making their usefulness during hot summers very clear.

Why shutters are a good investment

The installation of shutters in the United Kingdom is less expensive than ever these days, and the reasonable shutters price represents a useful investment in your home.

Not only will the shutters keep a home significantly cooler during the months of summer, but they also add value to your house, making them an excellent investment for the long as well as the short term.