Even though the official first day of summer is today, many of us have been dealing with summer weather for weeks now. What a lot of people don’t realize is that along with the season change comes a whole set of sleep-related issues. Here are the main things that will disrupt your sleep this season and some tips to help you cope.

What Happens On Vacation Comes Home With You
One of everyone’s favorite summer treats is vacation. But your relaxing vacation could have lasting effects on your sleep once you get home. Vacations allow you to stay out late and sleep in; however, such a change in your sleep schedule could cause your sleep cycle to reset and that makes it harder to get back on track once your vacation is over. As hard it might seem, try to stick to a regular sleep schedule even on vacation. If you do opt for a late night out, stick to your normal waking schedule and then squeeze in a nap in the early afternoon.

More Daylight Could Mean Less Sleep
The summer solstice is known as the longest day of the year. This year the summer solstice is June 21 and the sun will rise earlier than any other day of the year giving us more hours of sunshine. Even though the extra hours of sunlight is one of the great things about summer, it can actually affect your sleep. Your body’s production of melatonin, the hormone that triggers sleep, can be inhibited by the sunlight, so if your bedroom gets the morning sun it could be causing you to wake up earlier than your body would like. You can help prevent this by hanging blackout curtains or using a sleep mask.

Room Temperature Does Effect Sleep
Studies have shown that the ideal sleeping temperature is around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Sleeping in a room that is too warm can make it hard for your body to reach the REM sleep cycle, which can lead to you waking up not feeling well rested. While it may not be the most cost effective thing to turn your AC down to 68 degrees each night, there are some things you can do to help beat the heat. Try turning off your AC during the day which will prevent the AC from working when no one is home. Closing the blinds during the hottest part of the day will also keep your home cooler inside. Saving money on AC during the day will allow you to turn the thermostat a little lower overnight without much added cost.