Using a damp towel and a cool pillowcase can enhance your sleep quality.

When the air in your bedroom feels thick and stifling, falling asleep can become difficult. Many people experience the discomfort of sweating, warm pillows, and mounting anxiety as they struggle to sleep. While using air conditioning is an effective solution, there are simple, low-tech methods that can enhance comfort without high energy consumption.

One such method involves placing a damp towel over an open windowsill to take advantage of evaporative cooling. This natural process involves water absorbing heat as it evaporates, drawing out heat from warm air passing through the towel and allowing cooler air to enter the room. Although the temperature drop may be modest, the impact on comfort can be significant, aiding the body in its natural cooling process needed for sleep.

A slight decrease in temperature can help relax muscles, improve breathing, and reduce restlessness, making it easier to fall asleep. Another technique focuses on cooling the body directly by chilling a pillowcase in the refrigerator or freezer before bedtime. The cooling sensation on the head and neck can help lower core body temperature by affecting the dense blood vessels near the skin, signaling the nervous system to relax.

Even a brief contact with the chilled pillowcase can help overcome the initial difficulty in falling asleep, allowing the body to rest before heat becomes uncomfortable again. When these two strategies—cooling the air and cooling the body—are combined, hot and restless nights can become more manageable, providing a way to achieve restful sleep without using excess energy.