Summer is literally days away, and it’s time to flex the summer bodies and get drenched in sweat the whole night. The flex is fun, but the sweating, immediately no! But that’s just the thing with summer; it has a way of making us toss and turn under drenched covers.
But hear me out, this summer is going to be different because, beyond fans and cold showers, we’ll talk about proven and exciting ways to sleep cool on the hot nights. From advice from top sleep experts to choosing the right bedding, we’ll show you exactly how to cool down faster and fall asleep super easily this summer.
Quick warning, though, we'll be going against some norms, but by the end of it all, you'll have the most restful summer nights ever!
So without further ado, let’s jump straight into the hacks.
1. Warmer Feet, Cooler Sleep (The Sock Trick)
It may sound odd, but warming your feet can lower your core temperature and help you fall asleep faster. Warming your feet by wearing socks widens blood vessels in your feet, which in turn reduces your core temperature and promotes drowsiness. The vasodilation process allows heat to escape more easily through your skin, lowering your body temperature and allowing you to fall asleep faster.
So forget about getting rid of socks this summer. We encourage you to wear them out whenever you’re hot at night or just when going to sleep.
For practice, try slipping on some lightweight, breathable cotton socks or even specialty heated socks as you crawl into bed, and test just how quickly you’ll fall asleep. This will also help kickstart your body’s natural cooling process, so definitely give it a shot.
2. Hug Your Hot Water Bottle (The Preheating to Chill Hack)
Here’s a paradox: you can actually sleep cooler by warming up first. It's not just any warming-up method or the typical warm shower advice that counts. We are talking about warming your body with a hot water bottle.
The hot shower method works for some, but for others, it just doesn’t cut it. So one lesser-known hack that seems to be working for many is cuddling a hot water bottle for 10-15 minutes before bed.
Using a hot water bottle raises your core temperature slightly, but as you go to bed, the temperature will drop. This is a form of tricking your body into thinking it is cooler than it actually is.
The temperature drop will be sharp, yes, but your brain will immediately sense that it’s time to cool down and rest. Think of it like a reverse sauna where you give yourself the heat boost, then slip under the covers and let the aftercooling lull you to sleep.
A word of caution, though: ensure the bottle isn't extra hot.
3. DIY Your “Personal AC”
"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." When your room gives you heat, be your own AC. So, how do you become your own AC? By using frozen bottles.
Renowned sleep specialist Dr. Michel Breus calls this method an ‘old school hack’, where you freeze two water bottles, slip each into a tube sock, and place them on each hip. The cold packs are ideally on your pulse points and act as your personal AC units.
Alternatively, you can wrap an ice pack or a frozen bottle in a towel and tuck it under your pillow or tie it on your wrists, ankles, or behind your knees. These are your pulse points too, so chilling them sends a cooling wave throughout your body almost instantly.
Fair warning, just make sure to insulate the ice with a thin cloth to prevent shock.
This hack is not just cool but also very effective because, between the “frozen shocks” on your hips and a couple of spot-chilled zones, you’ll mimic that 60°F to 65°F comfort even on the hottest nights.
4. Upgrade to a Temperature-Regulating Mattress and Pillow
Sometimes the best hack is changing your bed itself. A mattress or topper built for breathability can make all the difference.
When looking for the ‘ideal’ mattress, go for a temperature-regulating one. For instance, Polysleep’s mattresses are made using a ventilated viscoelastic hybrid foam that molds to your body, channeling all heat and moisture away.
Let’s be realistic now; a good mattress is better, but a breathable pillow and mattress combo is unbeatable. We recommend pairing your mattress with a breathable pillow, such as the Polysleep pillow, which also allows your head to cool, thanks to its cotton cover mesh panels.
Now, if you don’t want to change your mattress, you can also top it with a ventilated memory foam topper. Polysleep's 2" antimicrobial topper, for example, is exceptionally breathable, allowing hot air to escape and providing a deep, comfortable sleep.
As you can see, there’s a way out if you don’t want to get rid of your entire sleep setup. You can choose from a topper, a mattress, or a pillow, but we recommend getting all three this summer, especially with the 30% off promotion currently running.
5. Tame the Air by Controlling Humidity and Circulation
Finally, remember that sweaty, still air is what causes you to overheat. High humidity prevents sweat from evaporating, leaving you feeling sticky and disrupting deep sleep.
Experts recommend maintaining indoor humidity in the 30–50% range (never exceeding 60%) for optimal sleep. To keep this percentage, use a dehumidifier or air conditioner to pull excess moisture from the air. We recommend these two because while ceiling or box fans are commonly the first option, they only move air around.
Alternatively, consider opening your windows at dusk to reset humidity before turning on the AC.
Now, for those of us who are a little bit extra, you can try sleeping in the ‘starfish-style’ to improve airflow all over your body. Simply spread your arms and legs to expose more skin to the airflow and create more space for sweat to evaporate.
Your Chill Wrap-Up
And there you have it, five simple tricks to keep you chill when the temperature soars.
So whether you’re slipping on socks to kickstart that natural cooling effect, tricking your body with a pre-bed hot water bottle, crafting your own “personal AC” with frozen bottles, upgrading to a breathable sleep setup, or mastering the art of humidity and airflow, each hack plays its part in transforming steamy summer nights into restful slumbers.
Give each hack a try in whatever order feels most fun (or desperate!), and watch as tossing and turning becomes a thing of the past.
Here’s to cool sheets, sweet dreams, and waking up refreshed even when the thermometer is off the charts. Sleep tight!
