Its a good idea to make your sleeping space cozy but a good nights sleep is going to depend on more than purchasing comfy mattresses Room temperature plays a significant role in our quality of sleep too Science has concluded the colder the room the better
Take some time to consider the environment of your room How does it feel Is there a draught or a breeze or is it stuffy and damp Do you wake up with night sweats or have trouble falling asleep because of cold feet Temperature not only affects how easily we can fall asleep but how long we remain asleep as well
The duration of our sleeping affects the quality of our sleep personally and in everyday dealings Keeping the temperature moderate and comfortable helps your body manage the changes that occur in your body through the night
A run down of the sleep stages and how they affect body temperature
There are different stages of sleep each with a different effect on your bodys temperature
Stage 1
This stage is likely what you achieve during cat naps Although the eyes are closed you can still be easily aroused and may feel un rested or more sluggish This stage generally lasts less than ten minutes Your body is aware of the temperature around it so if the settings are not comfortable you will spend more time waiting for the sandman
Stage 2
In the second stage the heart rate slows and your body temperature drops The body is preparing to sleep and the brains automatic function of regulating body temperature is preparing to turn off Because we spend the majority of the sleep cycle in this stage your environment needs to be comfortable to increase the chances you can stay asleep You arent consciously aware of the temperature during this stage A colder room then can prevent night sweats
Stage 3
The deep sleep the one were all aiming for when we lay down for our reset is called REM sleep It gets its name as a result of rapid eye movement activity when our brain is more active than during waking hours During REM sleep your body temperature has likely dropped about 2 3 degrees A cold room will maintain the bodys resting state
What happens to your body when you sleep
Before you fall asleep your body releases melatonin which is a chemical that tells the body its time to go to sleep As this happens the body loses heat Colder conditions create an environment that communicates a time for rest to the rest of your body It can be harder to fall asleep and stay asleep if the room is too warm
While we are in a deep sleep our bodies are subject to the conditions surrounding it When youre cozied comfortably under the covers of a cold dark room your body achieves relaxation and sleepy conditions
What temperature should your room be
Ideally the environment in your bedroom should be cold dark and airy Countless sleep studies are in agreement that a room temperature of 60 67 degrees Fahrenheit 16 18 degrees Celsius is the most comfortable setting for optimal sleep
Consider keeping your windows open in the summer months Fresh air and the night breeze might be just the ticket to a peaceful snooze Colder settings induce sleep A room that is too warm can disrupt your slumber once you hit REM sleep
Age is a factor to pay attention to as well As we get older our body loses its ability to conserve heat so dont be surprised if you notice adjustments to your rooms temperature at bedtime over the years An elderly adult may be comfortable sleeping in a warmer room that the average adult would find uncomfortable
To keep the rooms temperature consistently cool consider investing in a programmable thermostat Take advantage of the perks of living in a digital era and let technology work for you You can pre set the controls to ensure it feels perfectly cold when youre ready for bed Set it and forget it style the thermostat can maintain a comfortably cool room in the case of a shift in the night air Without waking you out of slumber the room stays cold and you stay asleep
Proper bedding and a cold room are sleepers paradise
Another thing that happens while youve drifted off to La La Land is the blanket and excess sheets practically become insulation When your body releases its heat the heat gets trapped under the covers until you wake up in the middle of the night kicking them off
Bedding should not be so thick that it traps heat inside and creates and warms you body in the process Now understanding how colder temperatures make our body sleepy it makes sense that when youre warm you feel uncomfortable making sleep more challenging Cool bed settings can aid in keeping the chill just right
Bedding is a big deal if youre sleeping in a cooler room Your body needs to remain comfortable to cycle through the sleep stages properly In case your bed does get too warm there is a wide selection of cooling bed sheets on the market now These were formulated with unique technology for a temperature controlled bed Thread count conversations can get confusing The next time youre looking for new sheets remember breathable fabrics like bamboo microfiber do a great job at staying cool They also feel pretty refreshing in a cold room especially in the summertime
Keep it cold Feel your best
Sleep is critical to our overall health and has a big impact on how well we tackle the day Suffering from a lack of sleep can cause grogginess irritability and affect performance levels
You need optimal rest to perform your best and feel your best but if your bedroom is too warm it could be putting a damper on the length and quality of your sleep You are much more likely to enjoy a full nights sleep of uninterrupted rest in a cold room with adequate bedding
Doing so will help you stay asleep longer so you can reap the fantastic benefits that sleep has to offer
However there are sleep problems that cannot be solved without proper diagnosis and treatment by a sleep specialists Alaska Sleep Clinic is here to help you improve your sleep thus improving your entire life Call us today for a free phone consultation
