A recent National Sleep Foundation’s global survey and “bedroom poll” revealed that one in three adults sleep in the nude. It’s no surprise it keeps you cooler but did you know it’s actually healthier?
The following benefits of sleeping naked may make you want to ditch your bedclothes tonight:
1: Better Sleep Quality
A sure-fire way to gain good slumber is to remove all layers as it will help reduce your body temperature.
The critically acclaimed author, Matthew Walker, in the international bestseller Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Dreams and Sleep explains that to initiate sleep your core temperature needs to decrease by two to three degrees Fahrenheit.
The neuroscientist goes on to explain that a bedroom temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit is a good target to aim for.
For women experiencing the menopause sleeping nude is going to be a helpful aid.
The National Sleep Foundation explains that the changing and decreasing levels of estrogen in these women can cause what is referred to as ‘hot flashes’ – feelings of heat all over the body.
To relieve sweating and keep feeling cool, loosing your bedtime clothes will help you get a deeper more restful sleep.
2: Fall Asleep Faster
The average person falls asleep in seven minutes, but did you know that by reducing our body temperature by as little as one degree Celsius can help us fall asleep quicker and prevent us waking up in the night?
There’s a bunch of scientific research that explains that your body temperature regulates the circadian rhythm (otherwise known as the body clock).
It is this that determines when we’re ready to fall asleep and when it’s time to rise and shine.
When your temperature is increasing you’ll feel more alert and awake, but when the temperature drops you feel more drowsy.
3: Prevents Diseases
Want to live a longer, healthier life? Well, it’s just another pro of sleeping naked!
A team of researchers from the University of Warwick and the Medical School and State University of New York, have unearthed the alarming link between sleep quality, duration and diseases.
The comprehensive exploration, using six years of data, reveals that people who sleep less than six hours a night could be three times more likely to develop conditions that lead to diabetes, strokes and heart attacks.
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4: Boosts Your Career
Who would have thought that no clothes whilst you sleep could result in you moving up the career ladder a lot quicker than you thought?!
Vicki Culpin, Professor of Organisational Behaviour at Ashridge Executive Education and the author of well-researched The Business of Sleep: How sleeping can transform your career explains that sleep is essential if you want to be successful in the workplace and enjoy health and happiness.
Her book is well worth a read as it’s jam-packed with actionable, science-based advice that anyone can put to good use straight away.
5: Burns Calories
Going to bed early has many health benefits like helping to control your weight, but did you know that going to bed topless tonight could help you get a thinner physique too?
A study carried out by the UK National Institutes of Health discovered that keeping cool while you sleep speed up the body’s metabolism.
The body creates more brown fat to keep you warm because it produces heat by burning calories.
It is this fat that increases your metabolism all day, helping you to lose weight.
6: Reduces Stress
Any way to reduce stress has to be a good thing, especially when half of Americans lose sleep due to it! Plus stress can have devastating effects on the human body.
It can suppress the immune system, bring on depression, increase the chances of heart disease and cause weight gain…we could go on…this list is by no means exhaustive!
In order to prevent any of the above, cortisol (also referred to as the ‘stress hormone’) must be kept at a regular level to help you deal with any stress triggers.
Scientists have concluded that sleep duration and good quality of it will help maintain, reset and stabilize levels.
7: Improves Male Fertility
For men hoping to become fathers, you need to start sleeping naked.
According to an extensive study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Maryland, and Stanford University, sleeping in boxer shorts or pajamas could be harmful for sperm production and decrease the chances of having a baby.
Five hundred men were followed for up to 12 months, tracking their underwear choices, and monitoring the quality of their sperm.
Men that wore boxers during the day and were naked at night, had 25 per cent less DNA fragmentation in their sperm compared with men who wore underwear during the night and day.
Allen Pacey, leading fertility expert and Professor of Andrology at the University of Sheffield (UK), claimed that men with an increased temperature in their testicles, have weaker sperm quality than those who keep their testicles cooler.
8: Better Sex Life
Do you want a better sex life? Then remove your clothes before hitting the sack.
Having a healthier sex life is another advantage of sleeping naked!
Over 1,000 Brits were polled by Cotton USA which confirmed this naked fact:
Fifty-seven percent of those who sleep in the nude reported being happy in their relationships compared with 48 percent of those in pajamas, 43 percent of nightie wearers, and 38 percent of those who sleep in onesies.
9: Boosts Self-esteem
Being dissatisfied with your body image can be detrimental to your overall life satisfaction levels.
This is a global phenomenon affecting both men and women. It’s dangerous, as an examination of this very topic has demonstrated that it can lead to eating disorder behaviors, depression and low self-esteem.
Three studies have proven that ditching the clothes can lead to greater life satisfaction, more positive body image and higher self-esteem.
10: Builds Confidence
According to Travis Bradberry, author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0, sleeping naked makes you feel more comfortable in your own skin which results in greater confidence.
When you feel good, you’re more successful in all elements of your life. Confidence is a powerful force – it decreases fear and anxiety, increases motivation, makes you more resilient and improves your relationships.
An exploration by The University of Melbourne found that confident people get promoted more frequently than those lacking in confidence and earn a higher wage.
Besides saving on your clothing bills, you’re going to be raking in the dollars.
11: Improves Your Relationship
Nudity at bedtime doesn’t only encourage physical intimacy with your partner, it’s actually good for your relationship.
Research has revealed that skin-to-skin contact releases oxytocin, also known as the ‘cuddle or bonding hormone’ or ‘the love drug’.
It helps to solidify the positive feelings we already feel towards people we love.
As cited by Harvard University, it’s great for your well-being and mental health, and helps build attachment to your partner.
12: Reduces the Chance of Infection
This one is for the women out there! Apart from being free and more comfortable when you remove your nightwear, you’re also allowing your genitals to breathe.
You’re providing the best air condition possible and reducing the likelihood of infections.
Dr. Alyssa Dweck (an obstetrician and gynecologist in Mount Kisco, New York, and a clinical assistant professor of OB/GYN at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City) has explained that yeast and bacteria thrive in dark, warm places like panties so when you take these off, it removes irritation.
Want to learn more about sleep and how much you should be getting?
Take a look at our sleep statistics article that will tell you all about our sleep deprived population!
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