Two words that won’t warm your cockles are “arctic blast”: the term used to describe the weather at the moment. So, how so how to keep warm at night when temperatures are sub-zero and gas prices have sky-rocketed? More of us are looking for thrifty ways to stay warm and comfortable without breaking the bank.
We asked sleep expert and CEO of Mattressnextday, Martin Seeley, to share his tips for combatting the cold in any ways we can.
It’s not reinventing the wheel, but there are simple, practical (and free) steps we can take to help ease the chill, all of which you can implement easily.
1. Take a hot bath before bed
«Having a hot bath, or shower before bed will help to increase your body temperature and allow you to fully warm up before getting into bed,» says Martin. “Most often, when we take a long hot bubble bath, our body temperature tends to increase and stay high for an hour or so afterwards, this means you should be able to get comfortable and fall into a nice sleep before your body temperature drops down again. For extra warmth, change into some comfortable and warm thermal pyjamas right afterwards to help insulate and keep the heat in your body. ”
2. Layer up
«This goes without saying, but you’d be surprised at how many people go to bed during the colder months without wearing sufficient, warm nightwear. If you’re going to bed with only a few items of clothing on, chances are you will wake up in the night shivering and wishing you wore more to bed, plus it will also make waking up easier if you wear warm pyjamas,» Martin says. “Investing in thermal pyjamas is an effective way to stay warm whilst remaining comfortable as they will not feel heavy or uncomfortable as some bedclothes can often do. You may also want to purchase fluffy socks to wear at nights, especially as your feet can feel the cold most, as well as a thermal jumper which you can also keep by the side of your bed in case you want to throw on during the night. ”
3. Exercise before bed
«Exercising during the colder months can be difficult, however this is a very quick and easy way to increase body temperature which should help you keep warm at night,» says Martin. “Make sure you exercise in the evening as this will help you to feel warm right before bed, not only this but doing a sufficient amount of cardio or interval training should tire you out which will help you get to sleep quickly,” he adds. And, you could always exercise, followed by a hot bath, followed by layering up.
4. Insulate your room
«If you are trying to save on heating costs, or perhaps only heating your home during certain hours of the day, then you want to make sure that your bedroom is well insulated and that you’re trapping the heat inside, whilst simultaneously not letting any draughts in,» says Martin. “Keep any doors to unused rooms closed, and make sure you stop any draughts that might be coming in from the windows or doors by using heavy weighted curtains, or even by putting items of clothing under doors or on window ledges to help keep the heat in and the cold air out. ”
5. Double down on bedding
«The best way to ensure you have a comfortable and undisturbed night during winter is to invest in a thicker duvet which will help to keep you warm and insulated. If you do not have a winter duvet, or want to save costs, you can always throw a duvet from another bedroom on top of you, or purchase blankets and throws to add on to increase warmth,» says Martin. We also recommend tucking a hot water bottle into your bed five minutes before you plan on getting in to warm up your spot and take some of that instant chill away.
6. Two bodies are better than one
«If you share a bed with your partner, make use of each other’s body heat and enjoy some winter bedtime snuggles, or even having sex will help to increase your body temperature considerably,» says Martin. “Sharing body heat is an effective way to keep warm, and being closer to your partner may also help to improve your mood also. ”
7. Eat hearty meals
«You should be eating hearty, warming, comfort foods such as stews, soups and high carb meals, as these will help you to feel full and comfortable, which should in turn allow you to sleep better and feel warmer,» says Martin. “Although, be careful not to eat heavy meals late at night, or right before you go to bed, as sometimes this can have adverse effects on our sleep quality. ”
