Cool down 'instantly' at night during heatwave by doing 1 strange task before bed

Cool down 'instantly' at night during heatwave by doing 1 strange task before bed There's nothing worse than trying and failing to sleep when the weather is hot, but one simple bedtime task can make things a lot easier. Another heatwave is on the way, which is great news for some - but if you're somebody who really struggles to sleep when the weather is hot, it's a nightmare. Our bodies are already exhausted from dealing with the heat during the day, and when it doesn't get much cooler at night, it's really difficult to switch off and snooze. This can make us groggy, irritable and generally not well equipped to take on the day. When it happens for multiple nights in a row, it can feel relentless - but according to sleep experts, there's one simple bedtime task that actually works to cool you down 'instantly' when you go to bed, and it takes minutes to do. How to stay cool at night Sleep expert Lisa Artis, Deputy CEO of Simba’s charity partner The Sleep Charity, said: "To fall asleep, our core body temperature needs to drop slightly. During hot, humid nights that natural cooling process becomes much harder, which is why so many people struggle to drift off, wake more often and feel less refreshed the next day.” Social media is full of hacks promising to keep you and your bedroom cool into the night, but a lot of these aren't actually very effective, and may even end up being dangerous. However, one that really does work is putting a pillowcase in the freezer before you go to bed. Lisa said: "Your head and neck are major heat-loss zones, so cooling them can make falling asleep much easier. "Rather than freezing the entire pillow, place just the pillowcase in a sealed bag in the fridge for around 20 minutes. You'll get that instant cooling sensation without ending up with a damp pillow later in the night." Similarly, putting a pair of socks in the freezer in the run-up to bedtime can also provide you with some much-needed relief. Lisa explained: "Your feet are packed with blood vessels close to the skin's surface, making them one of the quickest places for your body to release heat. "Pop a clean pair of socks into the fridge for around 30 minutes before bed. The cooling effect is gentle but often enough to help your body switch into sleep mode." Heatwave hacks that don't work While there are plenty of great heatwave sleeping hacks out there, one that may not be very effective is taking a freezing cold shower before bed. It can trigger your body to conserve heat, meaning you may end up feeling warmer afterwards. A lukewarm shower is much more effective because it allows your body temperature to fall naturally as you cool after stepping out. Opening your windows can also make your home unbearably hot if this is done at the warmest parts of the day, so make sure to only do this early in the morning and late at night.