Photo: Min An

Should you wear socks to bed?

thesleepdoctor.com - Should You Wear Socks to Bed? - The Sleep Doctor

Can I lose 5kg in 3 days?

Essentially, yes. The only main requirement is to stick to the designated calorie intake for each day: 1,400 calories on day 1. 1,200 calories on...

Last updated Oct 19, 2019

What does drinking water on an empty stomach do?

The benefits of drinking water on an empty stomach include positive effects for flushing toxins from the body, increasing energy and immunity,...

Last updated Aug 5, 2021

Fizzy juice “chews through” 63lbs of fat

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

Next time you are picking out what to wear to bed, consider adding socks. Many people anecdotally claim that sleeping in socks helps them sleep better and scientific research suggests they might be onto something. Learn about how socks may impact sleep and which socks to choose if you want to try this potentially sleep-boosting method.

Can Sleeping With Socks on Help People Fall Asleep Faster?

Research suggests that wearing socks to bed can help people not only fall asleep faster, but sleep longer and wake up fewer times throughout the night. One study found that young men wearing socks fell asleep 7.5 minutes faster, slept 32 minutes longer, and woke up 7.5 times less often than those not wearing socks. In another study, adults fell asleep faster when wearing socks, either on their own or after a warm foot bath. More research is needed on socks and sleep since few studies have been conducted. However, researchers have known for decades that warming a person’s feet at bedtime helps them sleep better due to the unique relationship between body temperature and sleep.

Body Temperature and Sleep

A person’s sleep cycle and core body temperature are both managed by their circadian rhythms, or internal clocks that regulate changes in specific bodily functions across a 24-hour cycle. Research shows that these two circadian rhythms affect one another and that sleep is associated with a drop in core body temperature, or the temperature of internal organs. Core body temperature differs from skin temperature. Perhaps surprisingly, warming a person’s skin temperature can decrease their core body temperature by expanding blood vessels near the skin and allowing heat to escape. This effect on core body temperature is likely the reason that wearing socks to bed or immersing your feet in warm water before bed promotes better sleep. The subsequent drop in core body temperature signals that it is time for sleep. The air temperature of a room, along with the local temperature within a person’s bed, also affects sleep quality. Research results vary when it comes to recommending the ideal room temperature for sleep, but some claim it lies between 66 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Since clothing and bedding greatly impact a person’s skin and body temperature throughout the night, the ideal room temperature for sleep likely depends on a person’s choices in pajamas and bedding.

Can Socks Help With Sleep Problems?

Is pizza considered healthy?

Pizza is not only delicious but can also be a healthy meal choice when thought is put into its preparation. Though many frozen and fast-food...

Last updated Mar 16, 2019

Where can I sell food pictures?

It just requires a well-thought out approach. Microstock is what people think of when they think of stock photography. The focus is on high volume...

Last updated May 11, 2020

Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

More research is needed to definitively determine whether or not wearing socks to bed can help with sleep problems. Warming a person’s feet has been associated with better sleep in multiple studies, but most of these use foot baths rather than socks to warm the feet. Out of two studies that focused on socks, one excluded people with sleep problems and the other found that socks only helped those without insomnia fall asleep faster. Still, future research may determine that wearing socks to bed reduces sleep problems. Research shows people with colder hands and feet take longer to fall asleep. This could possibly be due to the hands and feet not warming. It is important for feet to warm because that dilates blood vessels and allows heat to escape, reducing core body temperature. If a person is experiencing sleep troubles due to cold feet, socks might help. Wearing socks to bed is not a substitute for treatment for insomnia or other sleep problems. If you believe you have a sleep disorder or are having difficulties falling asleep, consider consulting a medical professional.

Shop the Best Mattresses of 2023

Is It Bad to Sleep With Socks On?

Wearing socks to sleep comes with very few risks, other than discomfort for those that prefer the feeling of being barefoot. Be sure to wear socks that are loose, and do not wear compression socks to bed unless directed by a doctor or other medical professional.

What Socks Are Best to Sleep In?

Any socks that are not too tight and feel comfortable are likely good socks for you to sleep in. One study found that when wearing wool sleepwear, people fell asleep about 14 minutes faster than they did when wearing cotton and 9 minutes faster than when wearing polyester. Wool socks may provide a similar effect, but more research is needed.

How Are Socks Part of Sleep Hygiene?

Sleep hygiene refers to the collection of habits you engage in that promote sleep, including avoiding electronics before bed, reducing room temperature, and other activities that help you wind down. If wearing socks to bed at night seems to help you fall asleep faster or stay asleep longer, you may want to include putting on socks as part of your bedtime routine.

Which vegetables should not be eaten together?

But there are many vegetables that are starchy in nature, such as corns, potatoes, cowpeas, black-eyed peas and water chestnuts. You should never...

Last updated Mar 30, 2019

How much water should a 72 year old woman drink a day?

Again, the recommendation for older adults is to consume at least 1.7 liters/day, which corresponds to at least 57.5 fluid ounces. In the US, where...

Last updated Feb 16, 2021

7-second natural hack eats through 64lbs of belly flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

References +11 Sources Accessed on September 20, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29699592/ Accessed on September 20, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17070562/ Accessed on September 20, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10485703/ Accessed on September 20, 2021. https://www.nigms.nih.gov/education/fact-sheets/Pages/circadian-rhythms.aspx Accessed on September 20, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32617439/ Accessed on September 20, 2021. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132320307745?via%3Dihub Accessed on September 20, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23669188/ Accessed on September 22, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31105512/ Accessed on September 20, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17764994/ Accessed on September 20, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11463418/ Accessed on September 20, 2021. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31692485/ About The Author Dr. Michael Breus Clinical Psychologist, Sleep Medicine Expert Michael Breus, Ph.D is a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and one of only 168 psychologists to pass the Sleep Medical Specialty Board without going to medical school. Dr. Breus is a sought after lecturer and his knowledge is shared daily in major national media worldwide including Today, Dr. Oz, Oprah, and for fourteen years as the sleep expert on WebMD. Dr. Breus is the bestselling author of The Power of When, The Sleep Doctor’s Diet Plan, and Good Night! Position: Combination Sleeper

Combination Sleeper Temperature: Hot Sleeper

Hot Sleeper Chronotype: Wolf

thesleepdoctor.com - Should You Wear Socks to Bed? - The Sleep Doctor

What breakfast has the most protein?

7 High-Protein Breakfasts to Power Your Morning 7 oz Greek yogurt, plain, nonfat 20 grams protein. ½ cup cottage cheese, low-fat 14 grams protein....

Last updated Jul 28, 2021

What are examples of vegetable juice?

Other popular items in vegetable juices are parsley, dandelion greens, kale, celery, fennel, and cucumbers. Lemon, garlic and ginger may be added...

Last updated Jun 6, 2021

Tasty juice “eats through” 54lbs of thick flab

This effective juice jolts the metabolism, boosts energy and burns fat all day.

Learn More »

Promotion

How thick should dipping glaze be?

Just right is about 'postcard' thickness. Rough guidelines: one dip 'instant' to 8 seconds, or two dips ('instant' to 2 sec. each), or a single...

Last updated Feb 9, 2020

Traditional “juice” activates 24/7 fat-burning

A scrumptious morning smoothy based on the diets of among the healthiest, longest-living hamlet in the world.

Learn More »

Promotion

How much tea should I drink for a detox?

one cup The recommended amount is one cup of detox tea per day. Everyone's body reacts differently, so decide by how your body reacts whether you...

Last updated Aug 16, 2021