Tip for Better Sleep

Smart Ideas to Cool Your Bedroom Without an Air Conditioner

When the temperatures get uncomfortably high, keeping your bedroom cool and comfortable becomes a top priority. 

While air conditioners are a popular choice, they can be expensive to run and may not be available to everyone. Luckily, there are several effective alternatives to beat the heat without relying on an air conditioner. In this blog post, we will explore a few ingenious ways to cool your room naturally, saving energy and reducing your carbon footprint

#1 Embrace Natural Ventilation

One of the simplest and most effective ways to cool your room is by harnessing the power of natural ventilation. Open your windows strategically to create cross-ventilation, allowing fresh air to circulate throughout the space. Positioning fans near windows or doorways can enhance this effect by drawing in cool air and pushing out warm air. Additionally, using window coverings like blinds or curtains during the day can help block out direct sunlight and prevent heat from entering your room.

#2 Optimize Fans for Maximum Cooling

Fans are essential tools for keeping your room cool without an air conditioner. To maximize their cooling potential, try placing a bowl of ice or a frozen water bottle in front of the fan. As the air passes over the cold surface, it will create a refreshing breeze. Another useful tip is to set up your fan to blow air out of the window during the evening or night when the outdoor temperature drops. This technique creates a powerful exhaust effect, expelling warm air from your room.

#3 Create a DIY Air Cooler

A cost-effective and efficient alternative to an air conditioner is to construct your own DIY air cooler using readily available materials. Start by filling a shallow pan or a large bowl with ice-cold water. Place the bowl in front of a fan so that the air passes over the water's surface, cooling as it circulates. This setup acts as a makeshift evaporative cooler, lowering the ambient temperature in your room. Remember to replenish the ice and water as needed to maintain the cooling effect.

#4 Employ Smart Sun Shading

Direct sunlight streaming into your room can quickly turn it into a heat trap. Smart sun shading techniques can help prevent excessive heat gain. Consider using transparent double curtains to block  a significant amount of solar heat while still allowing natural light to filter through. Additionally, outdoor shading devices such as awnings, shades, or pergolas can provide an effective barrier against the sun's rays, reducing the overall temperature inside your room.

Stay cool!

As we can see, staying cool during hot summer days doesn't always require an expensive air conditioner. Put the above tips into practice and you will certainly start feeling the benefits — and get better sleep even when the weather conditions are hot and challenging.

Too high or low support will twist your neck muscles, which can affect your whole body.

If you prefer to lie on your back, make the support thinner than when you lie on your side.
Fold the towel so that your neck feels well supported and you can roll your head easily from side to side.
Note that the alignment of your neck often reflects first the way it is when you stand or sit.
Therefore, after some time, it might be necessary to adjust the hight

If you lie on your side, create a support so that your neck is in line with your spine.
Experiment with different heights, until you feel your neck is as relaxed as possible and free to move.
If necessary combine a folded towel with a flat pillow
Be aware that some pillows get compressed during the night and won't give you consistent support.
A folded towel, on the other hand, maintains its shape very well.
Once you have created the right support for your head, move it a little backward, so that nothing or as little as possible touches your cheek.
A gentle touch on the cheek triggers a rooting reflex, which activates the neck muscles to turn your head.
Ideally, the core support is under the side of the skull, behind the ear, where you can find the center of balance of your head.
Note also that your neck doesn't need any support. Therefore, avoid squeezing a soft pillow under your neck as it will bother you by limiting body circulation and free movement.

The support you get is firm, yet comfortable and the flat surface promotes comfort and ease in movement.
Some weeks ago, my mother-in-law told she had a stiff neck every morning. When I asked her how she supported her head, she told having a basic, soft, and quite a thick pillow. I then told her how I support my head with a folded bath-towel, sometimes combined with a thin pillow. This allows me to adjust the support so that my head is well balanced and free to move. It is a great solution, functional and cheap.

Thanks for reading!

As always — thanks for reading.

Questions and comments are welcome!