Just one bad night’s sleep can affect your well-being, which is why it’s essential to find a sleep routine that works for you. Millions of people experience regular sleep issues, such as insomnia, but there can be simple solutions to poor quality sleep. In fact, what you wear in bed could have a significant impact on how well you sleep. For many people, naked sleeping ensures a better night’s rest. This could be because you find wearing pajamas restrictive or claustrophobic or it might simply be due to the room temperature in your bedroom.
While some people prefer naked sleeping, others feel vulnerable when they’re lying in bed naked. However, overcoming these concerns and getting used to naked sleeping could transform your sleep quality.
Can You Fall Asleep More Easily If You’re Naked?
Studies have shown that your body temperature has a considerable effect on your ability to sleep, which is one of the reasons why naked sleeping could enhance your rest. Typically, your core body temperature decreases at night, which gives your body a signal that it’s time to sleep. At the same time, the body releases the sleep hormone, melatonin, which encourages relaxation.
If your body temperature remains too high, your body won’t receive the message that it’s time to sleep. As a result, you’re likely to have trouble falling asleep at night. If you regularly lay in bed for hours trying to get to sleep, this could be why!
When you reduce your body temperature by naked sleeping, this supports your natural circadian rhythm and could help you to fall asleep more easily.
As your body temperature remains 1-2° lower throughout the night than it is during the daytime, you need to maintain a cool environment to ensure a restful night. If you frequently wake up during the night and find it hard to get back to sleep, your body temperature might be a little too high.
By sleeping in bed naked, however, you can prevent your body temperature from rising and sleep soundly throughout the night.
What Are the Benefits of Naked Sleeping?
Sleep expert and clinical psychologist, Dr. Carla Manly maintains that ‘sleeping naked is associated with better overall sleep’, which means that naked sleeping can deliver a whole host of benefits. When you can improve your sleep quality, you’ll notice a variety of positive effects.
Better quality sleep can boost cognitive function, elevate your mood, enhance cardiovascular health and even reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes. Additionally, improving your sleep quality can optimize your immune system and limit weight gain. As the body conducts much of its ‘repair work’ while you’re asleep, improving your sleep quality by naked sleeping can enable your body to perform these crucial functions at an appropriate pace.
Choosing the sleep naked can also have a positive impact on your relationship, particularly if both you and your partner choose to sleep unclothed. Skin-to-skin contact promotes the release of oxytocin. This hormone contributes to a feeling of well-being and closeness, which can strengthen the bond between you and your partner.
In turn, this increased level of oxytocin can have health benefits of its own. Known for its calming effect, oxytocin can decrease anxiety levels and enhance your response to stress. When viewed in this context, you could conclude that being in bed naked with your partner can enhance your well-being and lead to enhanced trust and a stronger bond.
Can Sleeping Naked Boost Your Confidence?
Body confidence is a major issue in today’s society, particularly as we’re routinely exposed to unrealistic images in the media. For many people, a lack of confidence means that they feel uncomfortable in their own skin or self-conscious of how they look.
Perhaps surprisingly, studies have shown that sleeping naked can actually help to increase self-esteem. When you spend more time without clothes, it seems that levels of self-acceptance rise. As a result, people who regularly sleep naked often feel more confident in how they look.
How Often to Change the Sheets if You Sleep Naked
People often assume that you have to change the sheets more frequently if you’re a fan of naked sleeping. In reality, everyone should change their bed linen at least once a week, so sleeping naked won’t necessarily mean that you have to replace your bed sheets more often.
However, it is true that dead skin cells or oil can gather on the sheets when you’re in bed. When you’re sleeping without clothes or pajamas, this can mean an increase in the debris that accumulates on your sheets. You can combat this by taking showers before you go to bed at night and, if you prefer, changing the bedsheets on a more regular basis.
If you want to increase your comfort while naked sleeping, you may want to experiment with different types of bed linen. Natural fibers, like bamboo or cotton, are typically more breathable. Not only does this feel better against your skin, but it also helps to maintain your natural body temperature, which can enhance your sleep quality in itself.
Is It Better to Sleep Naked?
People often ask, ‘is it better to sleep naked?’, especially when they’re experiencing sleep problems. While there are many benefits associated with naked sleeping, it really does depend on personal preference.
If you feel excessively vulnerable when lying in bed naked, trying to sleep without clothes could be difficult. Conversely, if you feel comfortable and relaxed, there’s a good chance that being naked could enhance your sleep quality.
Certainly, if you usually wear pajamas and you have trouble getting to sleep or you wake regularly throughout the night, it could be worth trying naked sleeping. Similarly, if you often feel too hot in bed or you wake up because you’re warm in the night, sleeping naked could reduce your body temperature and lead to a better night’s rest.
Ultimately, how you choose to sleep is a matter of personal preference but there are undoubtedly a lot of benefits associated with naked sleeping. If you dream of getting a better night’s sleep, why not give it a try?