What’s the Best Temperature for Sleeping?

If you ask sleep experts for advice on how to get a better night’s sleep, you’ll likely hear something about maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and not taking too long of naps during your day. But there are plenty of ways to improve your rest that have nothing to do with what time you go to bed or when you wake up. For example, it’s often recommended that we should keep our bedroom at an optimal temperature for sleeping; most even recommend cooler temperatures. This can mean anything from just slightly chilly to downright freezing—but if cold temps are part of getting a good night’s rest, why would anyone want to sleep in anything other than ice-cold conditions? Well, it turns out that cooler temps are actually better for sleep because they help regulate your body temperature while you’re resting. Your body naturally cools down when you’re asleep, so keeping things cool helps mimic those natural processes. As a result, some people find that they’re able to fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer when their room is colder (or at least colder than they’d normally prefer). And once again: You don’t need to freeze yourself into oblivion to reap these benefits! In fact, studies show that people who prefer sleeping in warmer conditions tend to fall asleep faster and experience less daytime fatigue as well as higher energy levels throughout their days. So what’s ideal? Well…it depends on you! But keep it a bit cooler and give it a try.