Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer (even if the kiddos go back to school in August). As the days grow shorter and the air turns cooler, you may finally start to feel some relief. But your sleep troubles could be from more than just hot weather.
Everything from the wrong bedding to late-night anxiety can disrupt sleep quality, so it’s vital to uncover the root causes. If you’re on the hunt for tips on how to get better sleep by Labor Day weekend (and beyond), follow this plan.
4-Step Plan to Better Sleep
Struggling to feel rested as the season shifts? You’re not alone. Increased daylight, schedule changes, and travel can all throw off your sleep schedule. As Labor Day approaches and summer comes to an end, it’s the perfect time to reset your sleep habits. Invest in cooling bedding and follow this four-step plan to start getting better sleep.
Step 1: Identify the culprits.
Before you can improve your sleep, you need to figure out the problem. Changes in your routine, environment, or daily habits can all interfere with sleep, not just the temperature.
Start with a simple check-in:
- Are the kids keeping you up? Later bedtimes and noisy evenings can make it harder to fall asleep, and nighttime wakeups disrupt your sleep cycles.
- Is your room too warm? Heat and humidity make it harder for your body to cool down enough to fall asleep, and overheating can lead to wakeups throughout the night.
- Do you drink caffeine or alcohol late in the day? Both can disrupt your sleep cycle, even if you fall asleep quickly after a nightcap.
- Is anxiety keeping you up at night? Racing thoughts and stress over work, parenting, or life in general can keep your brain on high alert.
- Are work travel and jet lag throwing off your sleep? Shifting time zones and sleeping in an unfamiliar place can make it nearly impossible to get quality rest.
- Is your bedding part of the problem? Traditional cotton sheets trap heat and moisture. This alone can disrupt your sleep, even if everything else is dialed in.
2: Make a plan.
Once you’ve identified the things that are interfering with your sleep, think through what changes might help. Here are some things to think about as you build your plan:
- Wind-down routines: If anxiety or restlessness tends to kick in at night, carving out some time to unwind can make a difference. Light reading, meditation, journaling, or gentle stretching can help ease your mind and signal to your body that it’s time for sleep.
- Travel prep: Work trips and jet lag can throw off even the tightest routine. Shifting your schedule slightly before travel and packing sleep-friendly essentials—like a white noise app, performance sleepwear, and cooling pillowcases—can make nights away from home more restful.
- Bedding: If you're a hot sleeper or your bedroom tends to trap heat, bedding designed with cooling and moisture-wicking technology can make a big difference. SHEEX® performance bedding is engineered to support your body’s natural cooling process, so you stay drier and more comfortable through the night.
- Evening habits: Caffeine or alcohol late in the day can lead to poor sleep. Limiting both, especially in the hours before bed, can make it easier to fall asleep and prevent middle-of-the-night wakeups.
- Bedroom environment: A cool, dark, and quiet space is the foundation for quality sleep. Think about what changes you can make to make your room more comfortable, whether it’s putting up blackout curtains or installing a ceiling fan.
3: Put the plan into action.
Now that you’ve mapped out the changes you need to make, it’s time to put them into action. Start by addressing what’s most disruptive for your sleep, then gradually make the other changes.
- Set a firm bedtime and stick to it. Even as your fall calendar fills up, practicing good sleep habits is key. Try to stay within an hour of your usual bedtime so you don’t throw off your internal body clock.
- Make wind-down time non-negotiable. Even 5-10 minutes of deep breathing or journaling can help calm racing thoughts.
- Switch to cooling bedding. Start building your cooling sleep system with cooling bed sheets engineered to pull heat away from your body and wick away moisture. Choose sheets with stay-fit corners and fabrics proven to help you sleep cooler, like SHEEX®.
- Travel smart. Keep a mini-sleep kit with you that includes noise-canceling headphones, a cooling eye mask, and a set of SHEEX® pillowcases to help you sleep cooler on the road.
Arctic Aire•MAX Pillowcases
$41.30
$59.00
Description Details Care Made of 100% TENCEL™ Lyocell, SHEEX® Arctic Aire•MAX Pillowcase Pairs and pillow covers are softer than silk and thoughtfully designed with SHEEX® CoolX™ Technology that wick away moisture to keep your body cool while you sleep.TENCEL™ Lyocell… read more
4: Adjust as needed.
Life can get chaotic, but it doesn’t mean your sleep plan has to fall apart. If you find yourself slipping into old patterns or habits, adjust and keep going. Do a weekly check-in:
- If you’re still feeling wired at night, try pushing your wind-down routine earlier or limiting screen time after dinner.
- If you’re struggling to recover after travel, prioritize sleep the first night back home. Skip the late-night emails and go straight to bed.
- If you’re still waking up uncomfortable or groggy, take another look at your environment and habits. If you haven’t made the switch to SHEEX®, now is the time. You’ll feel the difference on night one, guaranteed.
Sleep needs can shift as your fall schedule ramps up, but regular check-ins help you stay on track. By taking the time to assess where things are going off the rails and making adjustments, you’ll start sleeping better by Labor Day. Once fall is in full swing, you’ll be on the road to consistent nights of more restful and restorative sleep.
Build Your Cooling Sleep System With SHEEX®
If you're ready to feel more rested by Labor Day, start with your sleep environment. Cooling performance bedding from SHEEX® helps regulate temperature and supports deeper sleep, so you can head into the new season feeling refreshed.
SHEEX® bedding breathes 10x better than cotton and actively pulls moisture and heat away from your body for cooler, drier sleep from summer into fall. It’s why our customers consistently review SHEEX® as the best sheets for hot sleepers.
Start building your cooling sleep system with SHEEX® cooling sheets, pillows, mattress pads, comforters, and performance sleepwear.
Men's Soft Lounge Short
$35.40
$59.00
Description Details Care Size Guide Our sleepwear is made from the same ridiculously soft SHEEX® performance fabrics as our sheets, providing unparalleled breathability and moisture wicking to maintain your body at its ideal sleep temperature while resisting odors.Our Lounge Short… read more
