AFTER a blistering heatwave that brought with it record-breaking temperatures, Britain was battered by intense thunder and lightning last night.
With the mercury barely letting up, more storms are forecast to hit the UK tonight with severe weather warnings for rain in place this weekend.
It's been a hot, stuffy few nights which has meant some of us have already had a rough week.
But now the heatwave is making way for rumbling thunder, heavy downpours and bright lightning displays.
While some people have the ability to sleep through an earthquake, others can wake at the smallest sound.
If you're the latter and craving some shut-eye then there are a few things you can try.
Sleep expert, James Wilson, aka The Sleep Geek, told The Sun: "After the hot weather of the last few days many of us will know face thunderstorms disrupting our sleep.
"I think we need to not worry too much about it, as the worry and nervous anticipation of a thunderstorm means we are less likely to get to sleep and have the quality sleep we need after the past few nights.
Nervous anticipation of a thunderstorm means we are less likely to get to sleep
"If it does wake you try to not get too anxious or angry about it, maybe try some meditation for example imagine a while light at the end of a tunnel, breath in for 4 and our for 7 and then say the word 'the' over and over again.
"This gives your brain something to focus, regulates your breathing and drops your heart rate, making it more likely you will fall back to sleep."
If that doesn't work, then here are a few ideas to help you sleep through the thunderstorm…
1. Wear earplugs
It may seem like an obvious one, but muffling out the noise from outside with ear plugs can be one of the most effective ways of drowning out deafening thunder.
They're a pretty inexpensive option with a variety of choice available too – from foam to cotton and wax.
Simply stick them in your lug holes and enjoy a noise-free night.
2. Sleep on the sofa
If your bedroom happens to have lots of windows and exposed to exterior walls then chances are it's going to be louder.
Try moving to another room in your house, ideally one without windows but we appreciate that's not very likely.
Perhaps crash on your sofa instead. It might not be as comfy as your bed but moving location can sometimes make you feel more relaxed.
Just don't do it too regularly – it's not very good for your back and can throw your spine out of alignment.
That's why mattresses are designed to support your body.
3. Block out lightning flashes
Christabel Majendie, resident sleep expert at Naturalmat, said: "My top tip for sleeping through a thunderstorm is to block out any lighting flashes which can disturb your sleep.
"Try putting down your shades and drawing your curtains if the light is a nuisance.
"Turning on a dim light or night light might actually help as they can reduce the contrasts between darkness and flashes of light."
4. Listen to white noise
If you've not tried it before, white noise can be a great way to drown out background sounds.
Think that noise that comes out of the TV when it lost analogue signal.
Similar to static, it's not very pleasant on the ears as it contains a lot of high frequency energy.
But many find the unchanging background sound helps them to drift off.
There are other types of white noise that are a little easier on the ears that you can try though.
These include nature sounds like rain, the sea, crickets chirping or machinery noises such as air conditioning units, fans and washing machines.
You can buy white noise machines online or there are plenty of apps and videos on YouTube that you can play out loud on your phone.
5. Get a thunder buddy
Channel your inner Mark Wahlberg in the movie Ted and grab your thunder buddy.
Experts say that when we hug another person, our brain releases hormones which help us to feel good, such as oxytocin and serotonin.
These hormones lead to us feeling safe, secure and establishing trust – helping us drift off into a peaceful sleep.
Dr Nerina Ramlakhan said: "Feeling safe and relaxed before bed is the fundamental component to a good night’s sleep."
6. Give yourself a hug
Prefer to sleep solo? Dr Ramlakhan said the trick to falling asleep instantly – and thus missing a thunderstorm – is to simply give yourself a hug when you get into bed.
The comforting gesture helps us to “feel safe” and can be key to getting the NHS recommended amount of seven to eight hours, she says.
Dr Ramlahkan said: “Simply place your right hand under your left armpit, and place your left arm over your right arm, with your left hand gently but firmly resting on your right shoulder.
"Focus on breathing deeply, relax and you’ll be asleep within the minute.”
7. Cool your room to 18C
Dr Neil Stanley, ex-chairman of the British Sleep Society, says that sleeping in a room that's 18C or lower can you help you get a good night kip in general.
We need to lose around 1'C of our internal body temperature, which sits at around 37'C.
If you're in a room that's too warm, your body can't dump that excess heat – and that means that your sleep will be disturbed.
8. Change your sheets
Dr Stanley also suggests sleeping under "natural fibres, cottons and silks" to stay cool.
He says on his blog that his own bed is dressed with "pure wool, long, continental single duvets and pure cotton bed linen".
The expert also sleeps in cotton pyjamas and uses two down and feather pillows.
So ditch the nylon if you want a good kip.
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