London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Oct 26, 2025

Hot weather: How to sleep in the heat

Hot weather: How to sleep in the heat

With much of the UK experiencing high temperatures this week, many people are wrestling with the challenge of getting a good night's sleep.

But there are things you can do to beat the heat.

1. No napping


Hot weather can make us feel a bit lethargic during the day. That's because we're using more energy to regulate our internal temperature.

But if your sleep is disturbed at night, try to avoid napping during the day. When it's hot, sleepiness can be precious - save it for bedtime.

2. Keep to routines


Hot weather can encourage you to change your habits. Don't. That can disrupt sleep.

Try to keep to your usual bedtime and routines. Do the things you normally do before bed.

3. Remember the basics


Take steps to make sure your bedroom is as cool as it can be at night.

During the day, draw the curtains or blinds to keep the sun out. Make sure you close the windows on the sunny side of your home, to keep hot air out.

Open all the windows before you go to bed, to get a through breeze.

4. Use thin sheets


Reduce your bedding but keep covers handy. Thin cotton sheets will absorb sweat.

However hot it is in your bedroom, your body temperature will fall during the night. That's why we sometimes wake up feeling cold.



5. Chill your socks


Using even a small fan can be sensible in hot weather, especially when it's humid.

It encourages the evaporation of sweat and makes it easier for your body to regulate your internal temperature.

If you don't have a fan, try filling your hot water bottle with ice cold liquid instead.

Alternatively, cool socks in the fridge and put those on. Cooling your feet lowers the overall temperature of your skin and body.

6. Stay hydrated


Drink enough water throughout the day but avoid drinking very large amounts before bed.


You probably don't want to wake up thirsty - but you don't want to take an additional trip to the bathroom in the early hours either.

7. But think about what you drink


Be careful about soft drinks. Many contain large amounts of caffeine, which stimulates the central nervous system and makes us feel more awake.

Avoid drinking too much alcohol as well. Many people drink more when the weather is hot.

Alcohol might help us fall asleep but it promotes early morning waking and a poorer quality of sleep overall.


How do hot temperatures affect the body?


* Dehydration: Drink enough water to make sure you replace that lost through urination, sweating and breathing

* Overheating: This can be a particular problem for those with heart or breathing problems. Symptoms include tingling skin, headaches and nausea

* Exhaustion: This is when you start to lose water or salt from your body. Feeling faint, weak, or having muscle cramps are just some of the symptoms

* Heatstroke: Once a body temperature reaches 40C or higher, heatstroke can set in. Indicators are similar to heat exhaustion but the person may lose consciousness, have dry skin and stop sweating

8. Stay calm


If you're struggling to sleep, get up and do something calming. Try reading, writing, or even folding your socks.

Just make sure you don't play on your phone or a video game - the blue light makes us feel less sleepy and the activity is stimulating.

Return to bed when you feel sleepy.

9. Think of the children


Children are usually quite robust sleepers - but they can be very sensitive to changes in family "mood" and routine.

Lukewarm baths can help before bedtime during hot weather


Make sure usual bedtimes and bath times don't go out of the window just because it's warm.

As part of the bedtime routine, lukewarm baths are recommended by the NHS UK website. Make sure they aren't too cold, as that will boost circulation (your body's way of keeping warm).

A baby can't let you know if they're too hot or too cold, so it's important to monitor their temperature. They'll sleep best when the room temperature is kept between 16C and 20C.

You could install a thermometer where the baby is sleeping.

10. Get over it


Most of us need about seven to eight hours of good-quality sleep each night to function properly.

But remember that most people can function well after a night or two of disturbed sleep.

Although you might yawn a little more frequently than usual, you'll probably be fine.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
United States and China Begin Constructive Trade Negotiations Ahead of Trump–Xi Summit
U.S. Treasury Sanctions Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro over Drug-Trafficking Allegations
Miss USA Crowns Nebraska’s Audrey Eckert Amid Leadership Overhaul
‘I Am Not Done’: Kamala Harris Signals Possible 2028 White House Run
NBA Faces Integrity Crisis After Mass Arrests in Gambling Scandal
Swift Heist at the Louvre Sees Eight French Crown Jewels Stolen in Under Seven Minutes
U.S. Halts Trade Talks with Canada After Ontario Ad Using Reagan Voice Triggers Diplomatic Fallout
Microsoft AI CEO: ‘We’re making an AI that you can trust your kids to use’ — but can Microsoft rebuild its own trust before fixing the industry’s?
China and Russia Deploy Seductive Espionage Networks to Infiltrate U.S. Tech Sector
Apple’s ‘iPhone Air’ Collapses After One Month — Another Major Misstep for the Tech Giant
Graham Potter Begins New Chapter as Sweden Head Coach on Short-Term Deal
Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa Alleges Poison Plot via Chocolate and Jam
Lakestar to Halt External Fundraising as Investor in Revolut and Spotify
U.S. Innovation Ranking Under Scrutiny as China Leads Output Outputs but Ranks 10th
Three Men Arrested in London on Suspicion of Spying for Russia
Porsche Reverses EV Strategy as New CEO Bets on Petrol and Hybrids
Singapore’s Prime Minister Warns of ‘Messy’ Transition to Post-American Global Order
Andreessen Horowitz Sets Sights on Ten-Billion-Dollar Fund for Tech Surge
US Administration Under President Donald Trump Reportedly Lifts Ban on Ukraine’s Use of Storm Shadow Missiles Against Russia
‘Frightening’ First Night in Prison for Sarkozy: Inmates Riot and Shout ‘Little Nicolas’
White House Announces No Imminent Summit Between Trump and Putin
US and Qatar Warn EU of Trade and Energy Risks from Tough Climate Regulation
Apple Challenges EU Digital Markets Act Crackdown in Landmark Court Battle
Nicolas Sarkozy begins five-year prison term at La Santé in Paris
Japan stocks surge to record as Sanae Takaichi becomes Prime Minister
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
×