Although sleep problems plague people year-round, they can be particularly burdensome during the winter months. This is especially true for people who live in areas that are prone to icy-cold winter time temps.
So, if you’re not keen on the idea of spending the winter in a constant state of sleep deprivation, you’d do well to nip potential overnight issues in the bud. In the interest of providing yourself with a season full of peaceful nights, put the following tips to good use.
1. Install a High-Quality Ceiling Fan
Although fans are commonly associated with warmer times of year, a good bedroom ceiling fan can help you sleep comfortably during the winter, as well. Turning your fan to a low setting and allowing it to create a mild breeze can be a great way to keep air circulating and prevent yourself from getting uncomfortably toasty.
Of course, it should be understood that not every ceiling fan is going to be equally obliging. So, when shopping around for the right bedroom fan, you’d do well to exercise discernment. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you should limit your options to the most expensive fans, but it’s generally a good idea to avoid purchasing fans based solely on their prices. For example, if you purchase an unbelievably inexpensive fan, you should fully expect to get what you paid for.
Furthermore, keep an eye out for ceiling fans that feature a variety of settings and come with remote controls. Additionally, if you have limited ceiling space to work with, look for fans designed specifically for small rooms.
2. Invest in Cold Weather Bedding
Using the same bedding year-round may strike you as an exercise in cost-effectiveness, but it’s practically guaranteed to compromise your overnight comfort. For example, using cold weather bedding during the summer months will result in excruciatingly stuffing sleeping conditions, while using warm weather bedding during the summer months is liable to leave your teeth chattering all night long.
So, if you currently lack sheets and comforters designed for use in cold weather, now would be the perfect time to rectify this. In your search for the proper wintertime bedding, look for sheets and comforters composed of such materials as down, wool, brushed cotton and sateen.
You can complement this purchase with wintertime sleepwear made from heat-retaining materials, like fleece, flannel, cotton and silk.
3. Hang Thermal Curtains
Most homes lose a fair amount of air through the windows. Even if your windows remain firmly closed throughout the winter months, warm air is liable to exit and cold air is liable to enter through them. In the interest of minimizing the amount of escaped indoor air, consider outfitting your bedroom windows with thermal curtains.
Per the name, these curtains are composed of thick thermal materials and are adept at sealing in heat. In fact, these curtains can reduce window-based heat loss by as much as 25%.
As an added bonus, some thermal curtains double as blackout curtains. So, if you’re someone who does their best sleeping in total darkness, thermal curtains can be a particularly worthwhile investment.
4. Prepare Your Brain for Sleep
No matter how cozy you make your bedroom, you’re going to have a hard time getting to sleep if your brain is still firing on all cylinders. For this reason, it’s recommended that you engage in soothing pastimes in the leadup to your bedtime. This entails turning off your various screens 30 minutes to a full hour before hitting the hay and doing things that leave your mind and body relaxed. Examples of such activities include reading, journaling, meditation and deep breathing exercises.
Additionally, if you find yourself waking up in the middle of the night, avoid grabbing your phone, as this will only make returning to sleep more difficult.
The absence of proper sleep can inhibit everyday functionality to a considerable degree. Sleep provides one’s brain and body with the opportunity to recharge and detox, thereby helping ensure that they’re primed to face the challenges put forth by the waking world.
Unfortunately, good sleep habits can be particularly difficult to maintain during the bitterly cold winter months – particularly for people who hail from parts of the country that are prone to extreme winter weather. Anyone looking for effective ways to stave off wintertime sleep problems would do well to heed the pointers discussed above.
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