This Is How To Fall Asleep In The Heat

Words by Jen Nurick

Partial as we may be to indulge in an ocean dip to cool off from the beating Australian sun, we’re wholly opposed to waking up in a pool of sweat we hadn’t considered swimming in. Days spent beachside are relaxing but balmy nights can make for a restless sleep—humidity is high, mosquitos are bloodthirsty and AC’s are as expensive to run all evening as they are drying and dehydrating.

So, short of sleeping naked or taking an ice bath—because these will only go so far!—we’ve gathered some tried-and-tested tips to keep those forehead beads at bay and still secure your optimal six to eight.

Prepare your nightly elixir on the rocks

We’ve waxed poetic about cutting caffeine before lunchtime and sipping chamomile tea before bed, but no one can enjoy a cuppa in the blistering heat of a midsummer’s night. Consider drinking your herbal night cap or chai latte on the rocks or alternate your lemongrass and ginger for an iced tea to cool off before bed.

Sleep in linen—not nylon or silk

Unlike its competitors, linen absorbs moisture from your face and hair as you sleep—meaning you can perspire naturally and sleep through the night without fear of waking up with that unwelcome wet feeling common with silk or nylon bedding sets.

Opt for linen that is lightweight and breathable

Thanks to its low GSM or grams per square metre—ranking in at an ideal score of 170—our Bed Threads sheets are the most breathable and lightweight solutions to sleep on. Whereas other bedding sets made of alternative materials are slaves to thread counts that determine their breathability, linen doesn’t have a thread count yet it doesn’t compromise breezy, sweat-free sleep throughout summer and beyond either.

Create a cool, dark environment

This may be easier said than done as temperatures soar in the summer months, but keep the environment you sleep in at the forefront of your mind. Shutters or blinds work double time to promote a sense of relaxation and unwinding and block harsh sunlight simultaneously, so keep your curtains closed when readying for bed. In the same breath, consider the fabrics of your pyjamas wisely—opt for linens or light cotton sets with short sleeves—and keep the wattages of the light bulbs in your bedside lamp low. In desperate times, exercise desperate measures: deploy a fan or air conditioner to cool the room initially, remembering to switch these off before bed.

Avoid sleeping in fabrics that cause friction

Our Bed Threads are plant-derived from 100% pure flax, meaning they are entirely made of natural fabrics. The fine print? Unlike plastic-derived synthetics like polyester that can exacerbate heat-stricken sleepers, linen will never cause you to overheat. Combined with the softness of the fabric—which actually improves with every wash—linen will never produce excess friction, meaning you don’t have to worry about uncovering uncomfortable heat rashes come time to wake up.

Let your linen cool you down naturally

A critical differentiator from other low-tech fabrics, linen has an in-built temperature-regulating performance function to keep you cool in the summer and insulate your body in the winter. Come summer storms or sunshine, your linen will weather any change of the wind and adjust to the body accordingly, making it the obvious choice to sleep in all year round.

For more from Jen Nurick, follow her on Instagram @jennurick and read her work at JENNURICK.com.