You know those nights where it seems impossible to get comfortable and fall asleep – you’re warm one minute and then cold another? While the temperature of your bedroom might not seem to be a big deal, it can affect your sleep. Is there a best room temperature for getting a good night’s rest?
When you’re feeling drowsy your body temperature dips slightly and then rises when it’s time to wake up. If your room is too warm it can prevent the body from reducing its internal thermostat and result in poor sleep. What’s the perfect room temperature? It can vary from person to person, but most experts agree your room should be between 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit and some suggest going even cooler (between 60 and 70 degrees).
There are other ways to create ideal sleeping conditions, for example The American Academy of Sleep recommends thinking of your bedroom as a cave: “It should be cool, quiet, and dark. (Bats follow this logic and are champion sleepers, getting in 16 hours a day.) Be wary of memory foam pillows, which feel good because they conform closely to your body shape — but may make you too hot. And put socks on your feet, as cold feet, in particular, can be very disruptive to sleep.”
The National Sleep Foundation also recommends “…keeping a cold pack or a glass of ice water next to your bed for cooling off during the night in addition to wearing light, breathable-fabric pajamas (or sleeping naked), and using fans to help keep air flowing even when the air conditioning is on.”
Experiment with different temperatures at night to see what works best for you. If you decide to go for a cooler room, you can always add on extra blankets. At least these are easier to push off if you do get too warm at night.
Looking for more ways to get better sleep? Try our app, Rain Rain Sleep Sounds, to help you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer.