Why 54% of people struggle to sleep in Summer and how to fix it naturally. A recent Floks survey reveals nearly half of the UK is losing up to 2 hours of sleep each summer night due to heat, light, and allergies. Learn how natural wool bedding can help you sleep better, even in a heatwave.
As temperatures rise, our sleep quality plummets. A new UK-wide survey commissioned by Floks reveals a growing national problem: 54% of people report disturbed sleep in the summer, and 49% say they’re losing up to two hours of sleep every night.
That’s the equivalent of a full night’s sleep lost every four days.
Even more concerning: 10% of people are losing up to 4 hours of sleep, half the night, just because of the season. And while we can’t control the weather, we can control how we prepare for it.
What’s causing this sleep crisis?
According to our survey, the leading causes of disrupted Summer sleep are:
- Feeling too hot – 89%
- Waking early due to light mornings – 55%
- Seasonal allergies – 19%
Let’s break that down.
Too hot to sleep
Your body needs to cool down to fall asleep and stay asleep. But when the ambient temperature stays warm and your bedding traps heat, your internal cooling system can’t do its job. You’ll likely toss, turn, sweat and wake up feeling anything but rested.
Your body needs to cool down by about 1°C to initiate and maintain deep, restful sleep.
Light mornings that wake you up too early
Longer daylight hours may be great for your mood, but not for your sleep. That bright 5AM sunrise can signal your brain to wake up prematurely, even if you’ve only been asleep a few hours.
Allergy season isn’t helping
Nearly 1 in 5 people say seasonal allergies are making sleep worse in summer. Pollen levels spike, and airborne irritants can make breathing difficult, increase itchiness, or leave you sneezing through the night.
“We’ve come to accept poor Summer sleep”
Sophie Platts, founder of Floks, believes the UK has fallen into a cycle of seasonal sleep resignation:
“We are a nation that has come to accept poor sleep in the summer. It has almost become expected that we will sleep badly because we feel hot, are disturbed by light mornings and are irritated by allergies, but there are things we can do to improve our summer sleep.”
Her advice? Work with nature, not against it.
How to sleep better in the heat (Without air conditioning or gimmicks)
1. Rethink your bedding: Natural wool works year-round
It may seem counterintuitive, but wool is your best friend in summer. Wool fibres are inherently thermoregulating—they help your body maintain a comfortable temperature, drawing excess heat and moisture away from your skin when it’s hot, and insulating you when temperatures drop.
Unlike synthetic bedding, which can trap heat and worsen allergies, Floks wool duvets, toppers and pillows are naturally breathable, hypoallergenic, and moisture-wicking. It’s nature’s air conditioning.
2. Layer up with lightweight, natural fabrics
When it’s hot, ditch synthetic blends. Use cotton, hemp or linen and wool to create a breathable sleep environment that adjusts to your body’s needs. Choose a lighter duvet weight if you still like the comfort of a covering, but want to avoid overheating.
3. Take a lukewarm shower before bed
This helps trigger the body’s natural cooling process, signalling your brain that it's time to sleep. A cold shower can shock the system, but lukewarm water has a soothing, sleep-friendly effect.
4. Hydrate (but wisely)
Drinking water throughout the day helps your body regulate temperature more efficiently, but avoid large drinks right before bed to prevent sleep-disrupting toilet trips.
5. Cool your room the smart way
- Keep blinds or curtains shut during the day, especially in sun-facing rooms.
- Open windows in the evening when outside temperatures drop.
- Use a fan to create a cross-breeze.
- Consider switching bedrooms to a lower level in your house, where it's cooler.
6. Block out early morning light
Use blackout curtains or a sleep mask to trick your brain into sleeping longer. Waking up at 5AM just because the sun says so isn’t doing your body any favours.
7. Get outside in the morning, wind down at night
Reset your circadian rhythm by exposing yourself to natural daylight early in the day, and practising a wind-down routine at night. This teaches your body to respond to natural sleep cues despite the seasonal chaos.
Why Wool?
Wool isn’t new. But Floks is reimagining it for modern sleepers, combining sustainability, luxury, and science-backed sleep benefits.
Every Floks duvet, mattress topper, and pillow is:
- Made from 100% British wool
- Traceable back to the farm
- Hypoallergenic and chemical-free
- Biodegradable, renewable, and breathable
- All hand made with care in the UK
“We get to know the farmers and their flocks,” Sophie explains. “The British Wool Board grades each fleece so we use only the finest, cleanest fibres in our bedding.”
Wool is scientifically proven to help people sleep longer, more deeply, and more comfortably by up to 25%, in every season.
We all deserve restful nights even when the weather says otherwise. With smart, natural choices, like breathable bedding and simple routines, summer sleep doesn’t have to be a struggle.