How to stay cool in a heat wave
This August heat almost has us a dreaming of a cool fall day, where you enjoy snuggling up under a blanket and drift off to sleep in your warm cocoon – not tossing and turning for hours under nothing but a sheet with three fans blowing on you at once. Everyone loves Alberta summer, but it can be hard to enjoy it when you’re not getting proper sleep. The heat can make it difficult for many people to sleep at night, particularly those without air conditioning. There aren’t enough fans in the world to make a room comfortable at night if the air temperature is 30 degrees, so here are some unique tips to try out before bedtime to help keep your room bearable.
The Cold Pillow
This invention could be a life-changer. This cold pillow contains cooling agents, usually paired with some kind of memory foam, to help you sleep at a regular temperature starting at only $24.00. Not a bad price to pay for a good night’s sleep! Not willing to pay the money? Stick some ice packs in the freezer and place them on your pulse points before bed, like your wrists, elbows, ankles and behind the knees.
Sleep Somewhere New
If you’re feeling ambitious and you really want that good night’s rest, try setting up a hammock or cot that has open space beneath it. A suspended bed will allow better airflow and should keep you cooler as you’re trying to snooze. Better yet, set your new sleeping arrangement up closer to the ground – hot air rises so this will allow you a cooler sleep.
Lights Out
One of the best things about summer is the extended hours of sunshine we get. Sure, it might make it a little harder to fall asleep at night, but this means you don’t need to use lights in the house very often. Lightbulbs give off heat, so the less you use them, the less heat and utilities you use before you hit the hay. Why not save money and unwanted heat at the same time?!
Fans are Your Friend
In the end, a fan is still better than nothing. Get creative with your fan and try pointing it outside the window so that instead of bringing cool air in, you’re blowing hot air out. Try to create a system with a fan blowing in on one side of the house with one blowing out on the other side of the house, creating a cross breeze. This will cool your house down way quicker than one fan swirling the air around in the room.
If you somehow are able to combine all four of these suggestions, your room is guaranteed to be cooler than the night before. If you’re still not cool enough, think about having a cold shower before bed, unplugging all your electronics and avoid doing laundry or using the stove on these warm days. Cool, undisturbed slumbers – here we come!