Don’t make the bed if you want a good night’s sleep during the hot spell
With a weather warning coming into effect for high temperatures this weekend, a peaceful night’s sleep might be difficult in the coming days.
Temperatures on Friday and Saturday are expected to hit 27C with Met Éireann confirming night-time temperatures will be around 15C.
If you haven’t purchased a fan to get you through the glorious (but difficult) conditions, there is another hack that might be able to help you sleep through the night.
With a weather warning coming into effect for high temperatures this weekend, a peaceful night’s sleep might be not be possible in the coming days. Pic: Getty Images
According to one sleep expert, it’s as simple as not making your bed straight away.
A strange one, definitely, but we’re listening…
PANDA London sleep specialist Dr Seeta Shah is insistent that the hack works, as she noted making your bed first thing in the morning traps all the heat and moisture from the night before.
If you haven’t purchased a fan to get you through the glorious (but difficult) conditions, there is another hack that might be able to help you sleep through the night. Pic: Getty Images
She said: ‘I often remind people that what you do after waking can have just as much impact on sleep health as what you do before bed.
‘Over the course of the night, your body releases heat, sweat and microscopic skin particles into your bedding.’
Naturally, with higher humidity and temperatures during the summer months, the effect is intensified.
According to one sleep expert, it’s as simple as not making your bed straight away. Pic: Getty Images
Dr Shah explained: ‘From a psychological perspective, this creates a microclimate under the covers that is both warm and damp, ideal conditions for microbial and allergen growth, especially fungi and dust mites.’
That sounds lovely.
‘By leaving your bed unmade, with the duvet pulled back, you allow air and natural light to dry out the bed’s surface, disrupting the moist environment mites rely on,’ Dr Shah said.
‘Many people don’t realise that a well-made bed, while visually tidy, may actually be harmful to your respiratory health, if made too soon.’
The advise from the sleep expert is to pull the covers back after getting out of bed and open the windows to allow some air to get into the room.
