If you’ve never slept in socks before, you might want to give it a try.
Sleeping in socks helps regulate your body temperature, which research shows can help you fall asleep faster, wake up less and sleep in later.
a study published in the Journal of Physiological AnthropologyResearch found that men who wore socks fell asleep about seven minutes faster, slept 32 minutes longer and woke up about seven times less often than those who did not wear socks.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, sleeping in socks helps keep your core temperature (the temperature in your body, not your skin) low, Michael Breus, PhD, clinical psychologist and sleep medicine physician, wrote in a blog post on Sleep Doctor. Warming your skin by wearing socks lowers body temperature by expanding the blood vessels near the skin, allowing heat to escape.
When your core body temperature is regulated, it allows for better sleep, Breus said.
Temperature plays a role in good sleep
A drop in core body temperature signals the body that it is time to sleep and coincides with the release of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Experts recommend keeping your bedroom between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit for adequate sleep.
“Some sources recommend an even colder room; However, I normally recommend temperatures that are at least two to five degrees cooler than a comfortable temperature in the home during the day,” says Dr. Nilong Vyas, founder and owner of Sleepless in NOLA, a sleep consulting service and medical assessment expert at Sleep Foundationtold earlier Fortune.
Wearing socks and sleeping in a cool room can be the perfect combination for a good night’s sleep.
What kind of socks should you sleep in?
If you wear socks to sleep, make sure they are not so tight that they restrict blood flow, Breus wrote. It is important that the socks are comfortable so that they do not become a distraction to sleep. Breus also suggested that they be made from breathable fabrics such as cotton, linen or bamboo. And you must choose a fresh, clean couplenot the one you wore all day, behavioral sleep disorder specialist Michelle Drerup, PsyD, told the Cleveland Clinic.
If you feel sensory overload while sleeping in socks, research shows that your feet are in a… hot water bath before going to sleep can have a similar effect.
Will sleeping in socks cure my restless nights?
Although it is worth sleeping in socks to get better rest, it is not a solution for everything. Socks are not a treatment for insomnia or other sleep disorders. If problems persist, you should talk to a doctor. And people with circulatory problems should not sleep in socks without first talking to their doctor.
But in addition to unplugging before bed, dimming the lights, and avoiding caffeine too late in the day, putting on a pair of socks before bed can be a way to improve your sleep routine and wake up better rested. to become.
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