3 tips to still sleep well in the heat

Plaknacht één staat op de agenda, want het lijkt erop dat we deze week een hittegolf krijgen. Vind ik heerlijk, begrijp me niet verkeerd, behalve dan dat ik het van schaapjes tellen alleen al warm krijg. Hoe af te koelen? We hebben tips, waar zelfs de Hersenstichting goedkeuring aan geeft hoorde ik op het nieuws, dus dan mag je ervan uitgaan dat ze werken.

1. Warm shower
After a scorching hot day, you naturally want to stand under a cold shower all evening, but that's not as convenient as it seems. Cold showers actually make you warmer. The advice is to take a warm bath or stand under a warm stream, as that will open your blood vessels, making it easier for you to lose heat once you're done. And that works vice versa with cold water.

2. Put your sheets in the freezer
This goes against my hygiene instincts, but it seems to help if you put your sheets and pillows in the freezer for a few minutes. In a plastic bag, of course. Most people are used to a temperature of about 19 degrees in the bedroom, which is obviously not possible with heat. If you put the sheets cold, it feels wonderfully cool, making it easier for you to fall asleep. Eventually, everything will warm up again, but by then you should have already been sleeping for a while.

3. Water for the fan
A chilled or frozen bottle of water in front of a fan mimics the effect of an air conditioner, blowing cold air through the room. Just make sure to place the bottle on a tray or dish towel, as melting will obviously create water. It can also help to place your fan in front of a window; the air drawn in from outside is cooler.

And whatever you do, adjust your pace and rhythm to the heat. It's perfectly fine to dive into bed a little later and get up earlier to enjoy a coffee in the garden when it's still a bit cooler.