Are you tired of tossing and turning at night while you’re trying to fall asleep? Most of us would love to be able to fall asleep the moment our head hits the pillow, but this isn’t always the case, unfortunately. You might spend hours awake each night just trying to get comfortable. Don’t despair – new science tells us that there might be an easy solution to our problems: set your thermostat for the ideal nighttime temperature.
Many people are skeptical that there is such a thing as the perfect temperature. However, the temperature in our homes may affect sleeping more than you think. Most research points to the fact that our thermostats should be set between 16-19 degrees celsius. Why is that? Let’s take a closer look!
Decreased Body Temperature
When you head to bed in the evening, your body naturally tries to signal that it’s time for you to sleep. One of the first things it tries to do is decrease your core body temperature. While it may not feel significant, this small shift cues your brain to the fact that is time for slumber. Shifting your thermostat a few degrees in this direction can help initiate this decreased body temperature.
For most people, they need their bedroom to resemble the stereotypical cave. It should be quiet, cool, and dark if you want to see the best results.
Sometimes, that still might not be enough to coerce your body to sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, putting on socks might actually help. This simple action dilates your blood vessels and can help your internal temperature reach a more desirable level before heading off to sleep.
What About Babies?
Maybe you can sleep just fine but you are tired of your toddler waking you up in the middle of the night. Small children and babies might need a warmer room in order to sleep best. You can try to strike a compromise between what you need and what they need so that everyone can be comfortable.
Experts typically recommend keeping the temperature between 18-21 degrees celsius in this type of situation.
In addition to bumping the thermostat up a couple degrees, you want to make sure that your baby is not near an air vent or directly beneath a fan. This can cause them to get too cold and wake them up. It is best if they can be at a consistent temperature all night long.
Setting the Right Temperature
While you may be tempted to cut back on your heating and air conditioning to save money on your utility bill, you might be sacrificing your sleep to do so. Consider setting your thermostat to the perfect temperature tonight to see what a difference it can make!
If your home is too cold this winter, make sure you give Provincial Heating and Cooling a call. We can help with any Winnipeg furnace repair so that you can slumber in peace this season!