To get better sleep, it’s really important to have the right temperature in your room. Dr. Kelvas says that if your room is too hot or too cold, it can mess with your hormones, which makes it hard to sleep well. The Sleep Foundation suggests keeping your room temperature between 60 °F (15.5 °C) and 68 °F (20 °C) to help your body stay comfortable while you sleep.
Temperature is really important for how we sleep. Around two hours before we go to bed, our body temperature begins to lower, which tells us it’s time to sleep. Dr. Valerie Cacho explains that having a cool room can boost the production of melatonin, the hormone that helps us fall asleep. However, if the room is too warm, it can hurt our REM sleep, where we dream, and slow-wave sleep (SWS), which is essential for our bodies to recover, by making us wake up more often and interrupting our sleep.
Studies show that sleeping in a cooler room can help with weight control because it activates brown fat, which burns extra calories. This might also lower the chances of getting metabolic issues like type 2 diabetes. Plus, a cool bedroom allows you to experience all the important stages of sleep, which is really important for staying healthy.
If you don’t have a thermostat, taking a warm bath or shower before going to bed can cool down your body temperature, which helps you sleep better. Getting into these routines can really improve your sleep and make you feel healthier overall.