Life

How To Stay Cool While Sleeping In The Summer

There's a lot to love about the summer, but sleeping in oppressive heat isn't one of them. As someone who overheats incredibly easily, I find summertime to be the absolute worst time of year for getting a good night's rest. So how do you stay cool while trying to sleep in the summer? It's not easy, but there are loads of tips, tricks, and hacks you can try that might make it a little bit easier.

That's where this infographic comes in. You might remember UK mattress retailer Dreams and their Sleep Matters Club blog from a few other handy graphics we've looked at in the past, including this one about what might be keeping you up at night and this ultimate guide for couples' sleep positions; as such, it may not be a surprise that today's gem hails from the same source. We've looked at some sleep hacks for getting some shut-eye when it's blistering hot out before — but what I like about this one is that it's arranged in tiers depending on how hideously gross the temperature is and how sleepless you feel. Plus, there are a ton of new tricks here, many of which have never occurred to me before.

For example: Sleeping in a hammock. It's not for everyone — and admittedly not a ton of research has been done on the matter — but apparently snoozing in a hanging apparatus can alleviate back pain, help you fall asleep faster, and more. Plus, hanging in mid-air allows for more airflow around your body, resulting in a cooler night overall. This Redditor who sleeps in a hammock swears by the ENO camping hammock, which you can nab for about $70 at most sporting goods stores. I'll be honest: I don't know how practical it would be for those of us who live in tiny apartments to hang a hammock and sleep in that instead of a bed… but it's still a good idea.

Check out the full infographic below, and head here for more sleeping-while-toasty tips. Sweet dreams!

Images: WavebreakMediaMicro/Fotolia; Sleep Matters Club/Dreams