Why sleeping naked is beneficial to your health, according to science  

Should you snooze nude?

What do you wear to bed? Forgive the intrusive question, but the answer could influence your overall health. And as it turns out, there are lots of benefits to going all-natural and sleeping in the nude.

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If you haven’t already made a habit of sleeping in your birthday suit, now might be the right time to try it. After all, it’s your space and you’re free to walk around – or nap – however you like. Here are the reasons why sleeping naked is beneficial to your health, according to science.

Fall asleep faster

Firstly, sleeping naked may prevent the need for counting sheep by helping regulate your core body temperature. Temperature is one of the cues your body uses to know when it’s time for shuteye. According to the folks at the Sleep Health Foundation, the ideal temperature for sleep is between 17 and 19 degrees.

Think about how early humans lived in nature. The ability to sleep through the darkest hours probably aided humanity’s survival, which is why our bodies are now primed to sleep as the day’s temperature falls.

Today, while we’re not exactly running from lions, humans have a host of other stressors keeping us awake. It should surprise few who have experienced workplace anxiety that our jobs are one of the main pressure points preventing us from falling asleep at night. Couple this with the negative impacts of blue light, and you need every tool in your arsenal to help kick off your eight hours of sleep. Sleeping naked is an easy way to help your body enter that sleep state faster.

Enjoy a deeper slumber

Lower temperatures can also help us get through the night without waking up. Ask any woman with hot flashes how damaging they can be to healthy sleep patterns – waking up drenched is disruptive as hell.

Cooler temperatures help you stay under by stimulating melatonin production. This sleep hormone is crucial for adequate rest, as you probably guessed from the array of supplements lining Chemist Warehouse shelves. You could of course spend money on a supplement, or have your air conditioner running throughout the night, but why invest in either option when shedding your clothes can help your body naturally?

It promotes a healthy sex life

If your relationship has lost some of its initial spark, you might reignite some passion by sleeping naked with your partner. Skin-to-skin contact can inspire more intimate touches, and a thriving sex life has plenty of health benefits, including protecting your memory. Genuine connection is all about vulnerability, and you’re never more open than when you’re naked.

Also, keeping tight clothing against your private parts all the time isn’t exactly healthy. You’re more likely to develop yeast infections if you’re sleeping in underwear every night, so let your nether region breathe every now and then.

Sleeping naked might even lead to other fun couples activities. When was the last time you and your partner switched up your date night? Cooking together in the nude could be an experience worth trialling.

So should you sleep in the buff? Try snoozing nude tonight and mindfully tune into the effects. You might decide to put the pyjamas away and turn in each evening as nature intended.

This article was originally published on February 2, 2022.

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