Feeling Better by Sleeping in the Cold
By Donna Stark
It's getting cold outside, and you may be thinking about reaching for the dial on your home's thermostat. But before you do, let's talk about why you may want to consider keeping your home a bit on the cooler side this winter season, especially during the night when everyone is sleeping. Aside from all the money you can potentially save (which is a great reason in and of itself!), sleeping in cooler temperatures could improve everyone's overall health and wellness! Here's how.
Improves the Quality of Your Sleep
Cooler bedroom temperatures have been shown to help people fall asleep quicker and stay asleep longer because they help the body transition into a state of rest quicker than what it does in a warmer room. When a person is about to fall asleep, the body's temperature naturally drops. So, imagine how long that process would take if the bedroom was hot, and compare it to how long it would take if the temperature of the room was helping the body cool down. It's easy to see which temperature is the clear winner here.
Helps to Decrease Stress
Long-term stress can wreak havoc on a person's body and can lead to significant health conditions down the road. It's vital that you reduce the levels of stress in your life if you want to improve your overall well-being. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways you can do so, but one of the most effective ways is to get the recommended amount of sleep each night. Remember how we talked about better sleep just above? Well, it's easy to see that by cooling down your house at night and improving the quality of your sleep, you will also be able to make a dent in the amount of stress your body deals with on a regular basis. And that will make a huge impact on your present and future health!
How to Keep Cool
If you can't stand being chilly and don't want to wear layers and layers of clothing throughout the day, you can always just cool your bedroom down when it is time to sleep. Here are some simple strategies on how to do that.
- Program your thermostat to maintain cooler temperatures at night
- Open the windows to your bedroom
- Keep a fan on while you sleep
- Skip the flannel pajamas and opt for something lighter
- Limit the number of blankets on your bed
Feel Better by Sleeping in the Cold
Even though cold sleeping may be your answer to attaining quality rest, you need to be careful with the temperature if you have young children or newborns in the house. Unsure of how to proceed if you do? Just ask your primary care physician for help. Otherwise, get ready to enjoy all the restful nights heading your way!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Lakewood, Colo.