Sleeping With Socks On

From warm milk, counting sheep, and dim lighting, we've all heard the different advice about how to get a great night's sleep. Some of them are rooted in real experience, others are just plain myths, but one suggestion often discounted may actually have some legitimacy to it — Sleeping With Socks On.

Truth is: There's actually quite a bit of science backing up the Socks theory.

The Science
Because humans regulate their own body temperatures at 98.6 degrees (called thermoregulation), the surrounding temperature when we sleep is important. The ideal sleep temperature is in the mid-60 degrees – this is the natural drop in temperature your brain connects with sleep.

Warming the skin on the hands or feet starts dilation of blood, which increases heat loss at these extremities, helping to cool the body quicker and encouraging the rapid onset of sleep. Data shows this can shorten the onset of sleep by as much as 15 minutes.

The Benefits
The better you maintain your body temperature during sleep, the better the night's rest you will get. If you get too cold, or too hot, the probability increases for you to wake up. It's that simple. Being able to drop your body temperature will signal your brain to start going to sleep.

• Wear socks made of breathable materials like cotton.

• Do not wear compression socks overnight.

• Put on a fresh, clean pair of socks at night.

• If possible, shower or bathe your feet in warm water before bed; the evaporation of moisture off your skin quickly cools the body, bringing on sleep quicker.

Can't Handle Socks?
There are some people who just cannot handle sleeping with socks on. For them, there is still hope with some of these tips to help trick your brain into sleeping mode:

• Put a couple of extra blankets or pillows at the foot of the bed.

• Try consistently wearing warm slippers an hour before bed.

• Place a hot water bottle or heating pad at the foot of the bed.

• Go Premium: Try cashmere or merino wool socks.