Illustration by Guiomar Bohigas
Summer feels like a time for staying up late, but just occasionally it’s worth remembering the joys of going to bed while the sun is still up
It makes you feel briefly like a child again. Remember going to bed when it was light outside, sun still streaming in through the curtains (and you were sure you could still hear your friends playing outside?) You can recapture childhood summers by turning in early, watching the light fade through the curtains and listening to people walking by, the neighbours watering their tomatoes and summer life going on all around you, while you’re in the safety and comfort of your bed.
You can read by daylight. Going to bed with a book is always cosy in winter but being able to read your bedtime story in the sunshine is really special. You don’t have to stick to reading though; if you’re in bed nice and early you might like to listen to a podcast or ebook, or even take your phone to bed and have a catch-up with a friend before settling down for the night.
Instead of cosying up, think of it as ‘cooling down’. Have a tepid shower or bath, take a cold drink with plenty of ice up with you and enjoy cool, cotton sheets at the end of a warm day.
The birds can sing you to sleep. As you’re settling down for the night you’ll get to hear the birds chattering to each other as they roost, too. Download an app like Merlin and you might be able to identify which sorts of birds you have in your garden at dusk.
Early to bed means early to rise! If you’re asleep by 9pm you’ll be able to spring (well, saunter, perhaps) out of bed by 5am and get a head start on the day. Summer breakfasts are always best enjoyed alone in the garden before anyone else has got up.
In our July issue, Rebecca Frank looks at how to improve your quality and quantity of sleep in summer time. The issue is in shops now or you can order it from our online store direct to your doorstep.
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