The Benefits of Sleeping at Cooler Temperatures

In recent years, we have all tried to take specific measures to live a healthy lifestyle. Whether it's eating better, exercising more, or drinking more water, our days are focused on being healthier overall. But making healthy decisions doesn't have to stop once you go to sleep.

Getting a full night's sleep doesn't only help you feel more energized and rested when you wake up, but it also benefits your mind, weight, and, most importantly, your heart.

Though the benefits of sleeping cold are significant, roughly 44% of Americans report a restful night's sleep almost every night.

Benefits of Sleeping Cold

Although several factors can affect how you sleep, 69% of people reported that sleeping in a cool room enhances their ability to sleep well.

The CDC reported that 35% of adults in the US sleep less than seven hours per night on average. If you're one of the individuals with difficulty sleeping, we've listed some benefits of sleeping cold.

Fall Asleep Faster

As evening approaches, our body temperature naturally drops, alerting our body it's time to slow down and rest. If the room temperature is too hot, it can potentially stop that signal (it's time to sleep) and postpone falling asleep. Because the room is too hot, you may also notice restless sleep.

As you fall asleep, cooler temperatures help you acquire deeper sleep, sleep faster, increase the quality of REM sleep, and lower the risk of metabolic diseases like diabetes. In a Harvard study, participants were likely to fall asleep faster, taking an average of 6.2 minutes when their body temperature decreased at its lowest (approx. 97.7ºF/36.5ºC). It took participants 20 minutes to fall asleep when they were warmer (98-99.5ºF/37-37.5ºC). (Djik & Czeisler, 1995).

A Japanese sleep society (Setokawa, et al, 2007) study reported an intervention that lowered the core body temperature of participants by approximately 1ºF (0.5-0.6ºC). This resulted in a remarkably shorter time to fall asleep (average 8.9 minutes) by polysomnography, the gold standard in sleep studies.

Temperature & Sleep: Sixty-nine percent of people reported that sleeping in a cool room affects their ability to get quality sleep.

Improve Sleep Quality

Your core temperature drops leading up to bedtime and increases naturally, preparing you to wake up. However, "sleep hot" can cause havoc on the quality of your sleep. Keeping your room and your body cool improves your overall sleep quality. The ideal room temperature for sleep ranges between 60 to 68 degrees, and during those temperatures, it stimulates the production of melatonin, promoting sleep.

Did You Know: Our cooling technology leverages water's amazing thermal powers for deep, restorative sleep.

In the Japanese sleep studymentioned earlier (Setokawa, et al, 2007), participants reported that sleeping cooler greatly improved their overall sleep quality. They noted sleeping longer, waking up fewer at night, and taking less time to fall asleep.

Sleep Study: According to a study published in the journal Sleep Medicine, participants who slept in a cooler room (around 60-67 degrees Fahrenheit) reported better sleep quality compared to those who slept in a warmer room (around 75 degrees Fahrenheit).

Fights Insomnia

Specific types of insomnia are believed to have ties to body temperature irregularities, suggesting the evening temperature drop is delayed or the morning increase is advanced. Although definitive evidence is unavailable, sleep hygiene specialists recommend keeping the temperatures cool as it may help treat insomnia.

Big meals or even a fever pose problems for sleep if your core temperature is elevated.

Increase Natural Melatonin Levels

Sleeping in a cooler room at night may decrease your body's core temperature quicker, naturally boosting melatonin, the sleep hormone. A nightly decrease in body temperature relates to a rise in melatonin levels. These shifts tell the body that it's time to sleep, while your circadian rhythms regulate your body's sleep cycle.

Interestingly, a much-cited literature review by Cagnaci et al. (1997) indicated that the body-temperature lowering effects of melatonin are reduced with age and the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. So, sleeping colder may help those who are in those certain groups.

An increased melatonin level helps you remain asleep throughout the different stages of sleep. Additionally, it can help produce cancer-fighting properties, enhance your mood, and improve brain health.

Increase Metabolism

Sleeping in a colder room significantly affects your metabolism. How? Your body burns what is known as "brown fat" (considered "good" fat unlike white fat) so that you can generate heat while you sleep at colder temperatures.

Researchers have found that turning the thermostat down to 66ºF at bedtime could potentially burn an additional 100 calories over the course of 24 hours of sleep.

A study published in the journal Diabetes found that sleeping in a cooler environment (around 66 degrees Fahrenheit) can increase metabolism and improve insulin sensitivity, which may help prevent diabetes.

How to Stay Cool While Sleeping?

Getting a good night's sleep is essential for your physical and mental health, but it can be challenging when feeling hot and uncomfortable. Sleeping in a cooler environment can help improve your sleep quality and overall well-being. However, it can be difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the night.

If you’re a hot sleeper, you can learn how to sleep cooler at night by reading our blog 13 Tips on How to Stay Cool at Night. It discusses how to cool down a room properly, and different ways you can stay cool while sleeping.

Final Thought

Sleeping cooler can have numerous benefits for your physical and mental health, and it's worth considering if you're struggling to get a good night's sleep.

Optimizing your sleep environment and maintaining a cooler temperature can improve your sleep quality, increase your metabolism, enhance your cognitive function, and reduce the risk of insomnia.

So, whether you're dealing with hot flashes, summer heat, or prefer a cooler sleep environment, try it and see how it can improve your sleep and overall health.