Snoozeletter: 🔥 Hot Nights, Sleep Fights

Jul 3

Written By Sarah Petroski

🔥 Hot Nights... Sleep Fights to Happen

The heat dome may have passed, but much of the country is still sweating — and sleeping poorly. 🥵

Sleep loves cool, dark, and quiet.

Ideally? 60–67°F.

But not everyone has AC — or wants to crank it.

In my Fox Weather segment (reposting it here for the holiday weekend), I talked about how heat and humidity sabotage sleep — and yep, I also talked about climate change and increasing extremes… but that part got cut.

Fox Weather segment

🌿 Not-AC ideas to cool your body + brain

Use fans — bonus points for a bowl of ice in front.

Try a cooling necklace or wrap (freeze it during the day)

Drape a wet cloth over your head/neck throughout the day

Stay hydrated (keep it to small sips close to bedtime to avoid middle of the night bathroom trips)

Take a lukewarm bath before bed (not cold!)

Try Sitali breath — a yogic cooling technique:
Curl your tongue into a straw shape (or purse your lips if you can’t roll it), inhale slowly through the tongue or lips, then exhale through your nose.
Do this for 3–5 minutes to cool the body and calm the nervous system.

And if you’re heading to a BBQ or picnic this weekend:

A Mediterranean-style diet, low in saturated fats, is linked to better sleep outcomes. 🫒🍅🌾 Just a thought as you load your plate.