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Sleep & Health

How weather impacts your sleep

How weather impacts your sleep

As the seasons change and the weather changes, you may notice that your sleep is disrupted.

Weather changes may have an influence on the quality and quantity of your sleep. Many of us have spent a hot summer night tossing and turning — you wake up irritated and weary, almost as if you hadn't slept at all. With many of us currently facing scorching temperatures in Australia, it's worth pausing to consider how weather changes may be influencing your sleep.

Here are a few ways in which changes in the weather can keep you awake at night (and what you can do about it).

Temperature

Temperature has a significant influence on our sleep. Why? Because our bodies are designed to fall asleep at cooler temperatures. We actually need a slight drop in our core body temperatures to drop off to sleep. When we attempt to sleep in conditions that are too hot or too cold, we don't attain the appropriate sleeping temperature which often means we simply cannot fall asleep.

The ideal sleeping temperature is between 18 and 22 degrees Celsius, which explains why many of us have the most trouble getting some shut eye when we’re trying to sleep in the heat.

Seasonal affective disorder (and other mood disorders)

The way you feel can have an effect on how well you sleep. Depression, anxiety and even mild levels of stress can have a big impact on the quality of our sleep - and the weather can be a major contributor, or even the cause of these issues.

Have you ever experienced the winter blues? Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is an increasingly recognised phenomena in which the changing seasons (including weather) cause a person to suffer a dip in mood. It usually occurs during the start of winter, when the temperature starts to fall and the sky becomes grey and cloudy. It is characterised by a lack of energy, mood fluctuations, and depression.

Daylight savings time

If you live somewhere that observes daylight savings time throughout the summer, it is possible that it could be having an impact on your sleep quality. Daylight savings time can cause sleep disruption because sunlight alters melatonin, the body's natural sleep hormone. At the beginning and end of daylight savings, many people find their sleep patterns affected as the number of daylight hours have shifted.

Allergies

Weather and temperature changes may also contribute to allergies which can impact sleep. For hayfever sufferers, the arrival of spring may cause allergies to flare up, making it difficult to sleep.

woman sitting on bed in dark bedroom holding her head in exhasperation

So, how do you sleep as the seasons change? Here are some suggestions for reducing the impact of the weather on your sleep.

Maintain a schedule

Setting a consistent bedtime and wake-up time can assist you in training your body to sleep at the same time every night. This will support a healthy sleep cycle to ensure you get enough sleep and will assist you in achieving deep sleep every night.

Mood disorders, like seasonal affective disorder, might cause people to want to 'hibernate' during the winter and sleep longer, but it’s better to avoid doing this. No one likes getting up in the morning when it’s cold, but it’s much better for your sleep quality if you do! Stick with your schedule as much as possible, consistency is key when it comes to good sleep.

Reduce your body temperature

As the weather warms and the temperature increases, there are a few things that may be done to counteract the heat. If you don't have air conditioning in your bedroom, read our tips on sleeping in the heat.

Choose a mattress with cooling materials

If you’re a hot sleeper who struggles to keep cool in winter, then it’s a good idea to give some careful thought to the mattress you’re sleeping on. As a general rule, spring mattresses usually feel cooler than memory foam mattresses so you may want to factor that in when mattress shopping. If heat is a particular concern, then it’s a great idea to consider investing in a mattress that uses cooling gels or materials, as this can make the surface feel much cooler to the touch when you’re sleeping.

Turn your bedroom into a sanctuary

We spend a lot of time in bed, so it's critical that we make it a space that is optimised for rest and relaxation. Keep your bedroom comfortable and clutter-free to ensure that it feels like a restful, tranquil place to spend time and you’ll likely find it does wonders for your sleep quality all year-round.

woman sleeping peacefully in well lit bedroom

Need help weather-proofing your bedroom for the best night’s sleep, every night? Speak to our bedroom experts in-store today!

Tags: Seasonal Sleeping Health
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