'Tropical night' raises questions over best ways to recover from bad sleep as experts speak out
Following the hottest May evening in UK history, millions of Brits up and down the country woke up feeling sweatier, groggier and most overwhelmed than ever.
Thankfully, however, a group of sleep experts have revealed the best means of recovery.
Dubbed a 'tropical night', Monday (25 May) saw the highest daily minimum temperature record broken for the second day in a row, following an equally sweltering bank holiday Sunday.
Across London, temperatures failed to dip below 21.3 °C throughout the night, after reaching highs of 34.8 °C during the day, according to the Met Office.
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But it wasn't just the capital's weather that broke the books. In fact, across 12 locations - ranging from Suffolk in the East to Warwickshire in the Midlands - record temperatures were recorded. In 97 other regions, temperatures surpassed a painful 30 °C.
"We rarely see temperatures above 35 °C, even in the summer months, so to see temperatures getting close to 35 °C in May is, as I say, pretty historic," Met Office meteorologist Tom Morgan told the press.
Apparently, sunburn and overheating aren't the only risks that come with such extreme weather - aside from the strain it places on health and social care services, of course.
It could also affect a person's sleeping pattern, which in turn can affect their wellbeing both mentally and physically.
Studies show poor sleep can have a serious impact on a person's memory and cognition, their immune system and their overall happiness.
Research has long demonstrated that high temperatures can disrupt a person's sleep-wake rhythm, impacting the overall quality of an evening's rest.
It's no surprise, therefore, that many of us have woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning - and drenched in sweat.
According to some sleep experts, however, there's a way to get your sleep score back on track efficiently, beginning with some outdoor time.
Dr Rebecca Robbins, who works as an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an associate scientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital, emphasised: "The next best thing other than napping is to walk outside in the natural sunlight."
While this might not sound like the most practical advice given the temperatures outside, other health bodies say sunlight is vital for boosting the body's serotonin levels, so dipping in and out of the shade today could be a great means of keeping your mind happy and healthy.
There's also the fact that the sun can help produce the sleep-wake cycle-regulating hormone melatonin.
Again, it might not feel very tempting, but exercise can work in a similar way to sunshine in boosting a person's mood. In today's temperatures, activities like yoga or tai chi could be most appropriate - and it's vital to stay hydrated.
Before climbing into bed tonight, it could also be worth whacking on a fresh set of bedding, just so the feeling or smell of sweaty linen doesn't keep you up.
Neurology professor Dr Rachel Salas, assistant medical director at Johns Hopkins Centre for Sleep and Wellness, also recommends changing the aesthetic of your bedroom so as to feel 'minimal and clean'.
Distractions like mess and excessive decoration could keep your mind stimulated throughout another warm night. The more bare the room looks and feels, the more likely you are to drift off more easily.
This also includes keeping your room as dark as possible - especially with the blaring sun blasting through the blinds as early as 4am nowadays.
The most important thing, Dr Salas says, is not overthinking your sleep schedule.
"Negativity can condition people to continue with bad sleep—and even propagate insomnia," she explained, adding that the more you manifest a good night's sleep, the better your chances of achieving one.
Rhianna Benson