What Are the Benefits of Sleeping Naked?
What Are the Benefits of Sleeping Naked
Do you sleep naked? If you do, here’s some good news for you: sleeping naked may help you fall asleep quicker and, as a result, benefit other aspects of your health. If you don’t, you might want to consider giving it a try.
According to a survey on the sleeping habits of 1,500 people in Canada, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, about one-third of people in the United Kingdom sleep naked. A 2019 report from Statista shows that 28% of people in France go to bed naked often.
Although there isn’t adequate research on the benefits of sleeping naked, existing evidence suggests that sleeping nude may improve sleep, which may, in turn, lead to other positive health outcomes.
So if you’re one of the 70 million US adults who experience sleep problems or you’re curious about other habits that may improve your sleep quality and overall well-being, this article will take you through the benefits of sleeping naked and how to get started.
Is It Healthy to Sleep Naked?
Sleeping naked may benefit your health and wellbeing in many ways. For instance, sleeping naked may help you sleep cooler and more comfortably, thereby helping you improve your overall sleep quality.
Here are some potential benefits of sleeping naked.
1. May Improve Overall Sleep Quality
Sleeping naked may help you get better sleep because of its effect on your body temperature.
One of the ways to get refreshing sleep is by making your sleep environment cool and comfortable. Experts suggest that the ideal temperature for sleep is between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
When you sleep naked, you can support your body’s ideal state for getting quality sleep. Research also suggests that sleeping too hot may affect your Non-REM (non-rapid eye movement sleep) and REM sleep (rapid eye movement). These sleep stages support body and mind recovery, growth, healing, emotion regulation, and memory consolidation.
2. May Help You Fall Asleep Faster
If it feels like it takes you hours to fall asleep because you’re too warm, then making sleeping naked a habit may help your case.
Sleeping naked may lower your body temperature and help your body unwind fully for sleep. Also, your body temperature is another bodily process that works with the circadian rhythm, your internal body clock. When your core temperature is lower, it signals your body that it’s time to rest.
Research also suggests that you’re more likely to fall asleep when your core temperature is lower. Hence, going to bed naked may help you fall asleep quickly or more efficiently.
3. May Improve the Look of Skin
You may also get your beauty sleep when you sleep naked. Consistent healthy sleep supports your overall health, and specifically your skin health.
While no studies to date have looked at the impact of sleeping naked on skin function or appearance, a 2013 study suggests that sleep deprivation may cause a person to have paler skin, more wrinkles, a sad-looking face, eye bags, redder and swollen eyes, dark circles under the skin, and drooping mouth corners.
What’s more, research also shows that inadequate sleep also impairs skin barrier recovery as participants who had no sleep for 72 hours and only slept 2 hours a night experienced delayed skin barrier restoration than those who were well-rested.
Sleeping naked may help you sleep better, which, in turn, supports your sleep and skin health.
4. May Reduce Stress and Anxiety
There is a bi-directional relationship between stress and anxiety and sleep. Poor sleep may exacerbate a person’s stress levels and anxiety symptoms. In turn, stress and anxiety may impair a person’s sleep quality. If you share a bed with your partner: sleeping naked next to them may support the release of oxytocin, a love hormone known for its anti-stress effect, and may help reduce stress and anxiety.
5. May Help Build Self-Esteem
Another surprising benefit of sleeping naked is that it may promote high self-esteem and positive body image.
Studies suggest that being nude may enhance life satisfaction and improve body image and self-esteem. Similarly, another study indicates that naked activity may make you feel more attractive and appreciate your body more. Plus, these feelings are linked with increased sexual functioning, happiness, and well-being levels.
You don’t have to go to a nudist beach to engage in naked activity when you can just go to bed every night naked and enjoy these same benefits.
6. May Improve Vaginal Health
Your vagina health may thank you for making sleeping nude a habit.
Here’s why: A person’s vagina health is impacted by how much air circulates it. For example, tight underwear may increase a person’s risk of having a yeast infection, a condition where yeast overgrows in the vagina.
Sleeping naked may allow airflow freely in the vagina and reduce a person’s chances of developing a yeast infection.
7. May Increase Male Fertility
Sleeping naked may also benefit male reproductive health and fertility. A 2018 study reports that a high scrotal temperature may affect sperm concentration and total count, and nocturnal cooling may reduce scrotal temperature.
Going to bed with light underwear or naked may support testicular function and male fertility.
How to Start Sleeping Naked Comfortably
If you don’t already go to bed naked, the idea of sleeping with nothing on may be strange or may not sound comfortable to you. Don’t worry. We’ve got ideas to ease into it!
- Keep your room temperature in the ideal sleep temperature: between 60 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. If your room is too hot or cold, you may find it hard to sleep naked.
- Start by wearing loose-fitting underwear. You can move slowly by just wearing loose underwear till you’re comfortable with going completely naked.
- Have a relaxing bedtime routine that you follow every night that leads you to fall asleep. These activities may help your body unwind before you go to bed.
- If you sleep with your partner, consider convincing them to go to bed naked with you. Doing this may help you feel more comfortable sleeping naked and even benefit your relationship and intimacy levels.
- Ensure your beddings and pillowcases are quality, fluffy, and clean so you can be comfortable having your skin directly on it.
Wrapping Up: Sleeping Nude
Sleeping in the buff may benefit your body, including improving your sleep, reproductive, mental, emotional, and overall health. Of course, it’s all about preference. If you find it works for you, and as long as you’re comfortable and warm enough, keep those PJs in the drawer and enjoy unencumbered rest!