When the weather gets warmer, nearly all of us rely on our air conditioners to keep our bodies at a comfortable temperature. It's hardly surprising that two out of three American households has an air conditioning system, and that 82% of apartment buildings have air conditioners.

When it comes to the nighttime hours, however, many of us are used to turning our AC thermostats up a few degrees in order to save energy and cut our air conditioning costs.

The result? A poorer night's sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation has reported that high temperatures and poor sleep habits are actually highly correlated. When you sleep in a warm bedroom, it will take longer for you to fall asleep, and once you do fall asleep, it will be restless. Luckily, you can fix this problem easily by making your bedroom a cooler place at night.

Tired of feeling uncomfortably hot while you try to fall asleep every night? Does the heat even wake you up during the middle of the night? Let the heat bother you no more with these three indispensable tips for staying cool while you sleep:

Invest in a programmable thermostat
Did you know that the ideal sleep temperature is usually between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit? With a programmable thermostat -- a device that usually costs no more than $25 -- you can keep your bedroom's temperature precisely regulated while you sleep. When you wake up feeling well-rested every day, you'll know this investment was well worth it.

Don't exercise too late
Exercising is known for raising your body temperature for a few hours after your workout ends. As a result, it's a good idea to work out earlier in the day and allow your body to stay cool and calm at night. Early workouts will improve the overall quality of your sleep, as well.

Use fans to keep the air circulating
In addition to AC thermostats, it's also a good idea to keep a fan turned on at night. The fan will help circulate warm air away from your body and keep you cooler. Additionally, fans can help boost your air conditioner's overall energy efficiency -- when combined with other energy-saving methods, you can cut your air conditioner's energy consumption by 20 to 50%!

Have any other questions about how to hire an AC contractor to keep your AC thermostats and systems in top condition this summer? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.