Hot sleepless nights

The weather across New Zealand has been magic in recent weeks – hot, settled and like the summers we remember from our childhood – where day followed glorious day, with little more to do than race in and out of the ocean.

Beautiful days are one thing, but hot, humid summer nights can play havoc with sleep patterns, as it is much harder to sleep well.

Humidity is a big part of the problem, making it hard for sweat to evaporate, which makes bed time uncomfortable.

We need to drink more during extremely hot weather to help our bodies cool, but for some, that can mean disturbance in the night to go to the toilet. Even if it inconvenient to get up, don’t avoid drinking water and go to bed thirsty, you’ll only end up having to get up for a drink instead!

Alcohol tends to make it easier to fall asleep, but it also lowers the threshold for waking up, which isn’t helpful during the hottest and muggiest summer nights.

– Cool your room as much as possible before bed – in the hour before you go to bed, open any doors and windows to allow extra air flow. If the sun shines into your room in the evening, close the curtains or blinds for a while to help cool the room down. If you have a fan, switch it on, so that when you go to bed, the room is as cool as possible.

– Use cotton sheets and remove extra blankets. Artificial fibres don’t breathe as well and can contribute to overheating.

– Have a lukewarm shower before bed. Don’t be tempted to have a cold shower, as it will close your pores and make it harder to control your temperature. Barely dry yourself, so that your skin is slightly damp – that way any airflow will combine to help cool you down.

– Fill a hot water bottle with ice-cold water. It works very well and provides a sense of cool relief on the body.

If you can’t sleep, don’t lie there any worry about it. Read or write quietly (avoid phones, tablets and the television that will wake you even further).

Hot humid nights may seem like they go on forever, but in reality, it is only for a few weeks each year, and don’t forget – they do come with all the perks that summer brings!