5 Springtime Sleep Woes And How To Deal With Them

Winter’s finally over and spring’s here! The sun’s out, flowers are blooming, the days are longer – it’s a season that just makes you feel happier. Yet, despite the joy that spring brings, there’s something that puts a damper on the celebration – sleep troubles. As we come out of winter, our sleep-wake cycles take time to adjust to the change of season. This time of the year also means more pollen, erratic weather, and temperature changes. There’s a whole lot going on and you need to navigate your way around it. Take a look at some of the common problems that can affect your sleep in spring and what you can do about them.

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Common Spring Sleep Problems

1. Pollen Woes

Pretty flowers and greener vegetation are some of the highlights of spring. While they look fabulous and make you want to explore the outdoors, they can also trigger hay fever. Also known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is an abnormal reaction to pollen and even dust, mold and pet dander. If any of these things make their way into your home and you’re allergic, it’s very likely that they can disturb your sleep at night. Even if you aren’t but your partner is, his/her symptoms will most certainly ruin your sleep. Sneezing, sniffling, itchy and watery eyes, etc. are some of the things to contend with.
Despite the woes that come with hay fever, there are ways to control it. You should try to stay indoors when pollen is high and keep your bedroom free of pets. Regular cleaning will also keep the bedroom dust-free and make it easier to sleep at night.

2. Longer Days, Shorter Nights

Remember how eager you were to get into bed early in winter? Since night came quickly, your body produced more melatonin, the sleep hormone that’s released in response to a lack of light. Well, with spring comes long days and short nights as the sun sets late. While this gives you more time to finish tasks, it also means you’re likely to be awake longer. You may also wake up early as the sun rises soon. The long-anticipated season may encourage you to socialize more and stay out, which can prevent you from getting the recommended 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
A simple way to induce sleep when you’re at home is to use blackout shades in the bedroom. If you’ve planned a night out, have a proper meal before drinking so your body can process alcohol better. Match each drink with a glass of water to keep yourself hydrated. Prepare your bedroom beforehand so that you can slip into bed as soon as you’re home. Dim the lights, reduce the temperature to 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit and use a pair of earplugs to block out noise.

3. From Cold To Warm

There’s nothing like the warm spring air to invite you outside and have fun. But come night time and that same warmth can make it tough to sleep even if you don’t normally sleep hot. Our core body temperature needs to drop in order for sleep to come. When you’re hot, you’ll feel more energized and will find it harder to sleep. One way to address higher temperatures in spring is to set the thermostat to between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit. It may seem cold but experts recommend this range for good sleep.

4. Thick Blankets Overheat You

The heavy comforter and thick blankets that kept you wonderfully snug through winter will make you overheat in spring. With the new season, you should be using bed linen that’s lightweight and breathable. Even the color of your bed sheets matters. Dark-colored fabrics absorb heat from the lighting in your bedroom and retain it. On the other hand, light-colored fabrics don’t absorb as much. The goal is to keep air circulating between bedclothes and prevent body warmth from being trapped and overheating you. You should also opt for night clothes that are lightweight so you feel unencumbered and cool when sleeping.

5. The House Needs Cleaning

The long winter months see most people staying indoors to escape the cold. You just can’t be bothered to do any kind of real cleaning. The holiday season also keeps you too busy. It’s only when spring comes around and everyone’s out of the house celebrating the weather that you realize there’s a LOT to clean and it’s the perfect time to do it.

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Decluttering and cleaning the house doesn’t just make a home look great; it can also help you sleep better. When you have a messy room, your brain associates it with a task that needs handling and this thought can make it difficult to fall asleep. Since a bedroom should be associated with rest, decluttering it will help your mind relax and make it easier to sleep. It will also reduce the amount of dust and pet dander that can trigger hay fever and interfere with sleep. Along with these tips, it’s important to invest in a good mattress for a comfortable sleep. No amount of cleaning or cool temperatures will help if your bed is lumpy and saggy.

Nuvanna is designed to be both comfortable and supportive, thanks to its triple-layer construction. It’s designed by a material scientist and the result is a mattress that aims to help you sleep better. The top layer is infused with phase-changing gel particles that draw out body heat and disperse it to keep you cool – a perfect balance to the warmth of spring! The middle layer isolates motion and lets you and yours move freely without disturbing each other. The bottom layer provides support to the entire body, including the spine, and prevents you from sinking and developing back pain. The mattress is covered in hypoallergenic TENCEL fabric that inhibits the growth of bacteria that may trigger allergies.

Spring is quite possibly the best season. It’s not too hot, not too cold and there’s life all around. The winter blues are gone and you can’t help but want to venture out and enjoy the sun. Just because there may be things that can make sleep a little difficult, there’s no reason you can’t have your cake and eat it too! Try the tips here and see the difference they make to your springtime sleep.