There are people who wear warm socks and flannel pyjamas, keep the bedroom window closed and still find the nights cool. For some it’s a dream, while for others, the very thought of long-sleeved pyjamas makes them uncomfortably hot.
People just are different
‘You're like a little stove!’ my mother used to say to me when she came to wake me up in the morning.
There are people who wear warm woolly socks and flannel pyjamas, keep the bedroom window closed and still find the nights very chilly. For me that’s something to dream of. I get unpleasantly hot just looking at long-sleeved pyjamas, and that’s just the topic I want to highlight here.
The perfect bedroom temperature is actually 16 to 18° C, but some people like it cosy and warm, and wrap up thick, while others sweat even in a cool environment. I want to be more specific here, so that you understand the issue better. I don’t mean just slightly warm hands, but people like me who often wake up at night to find everything in the bed has become damp and clammy.
So why, actually, does this happen? How can it be that some people sweat at night as if they were running a marathon? There can be many reasons for this: for example, hormones can be released at night, or mental pressures can cause us to feel stressed, but it can also simply be a question of type.
Check your sleep environment
Many of these factors cannot be changed or can only be changed to a limited extent, but in most cases the solution lies in changing the sleeping conditions. The best way to do this is as follows. First check the room temperature and set it to about 17° C. Then consider yourself and the bed, especially pyjamas, duvets, and pillows. First of all, synthetic materials should be banned from the bedroom! There are very many natural materials that can make a big difference, because they are breathable and at the same time can absorb and wick away a lot of moisture. For example, cotton and virgin sheep’s wool are very suitable for this. Yes, you did read that correctly: wool! Virgin sheep’s wool insulates less than down. It allows air to circulate, which ensures a comfortable temperature. It is also able to absorb up to a third of its own weight in moisture without feeling damp. This keeps the bedroom climate pleasantly warm, not too hot, and dry. It is similar with the blend of cotton and linen. Compared to synthetic fibres, these plant fibres are very absorbent.
In addition, it can help to pay attention to diet and drinking habits, and to air out the bedroom before going to bed. A popular home remedy is sage tea, which provides relief from hot flushes.
As we can see, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to make you sweat less, but if you keep a few things in mind throughout the day and furnish your bed with natural materials, you will feel a noticeable difference and sleep right through – in a dry, fresh, and natural bed.
Sleep well!
