If you live someplace with seasons, you've probably been struggling with the past few weeks' sweltering weather. It may have even affected your sleep. According to sleep medicine doctor and neurologist W. Christopher Winter, M.D., our bodies need cooler temperatures for sleep than we do when we're awake—around 65 degrees is apparently ideal. So, unless you're blasting the AC, summer weather can cause some problems.
Some folks, however, employ a simple trick to stay cool when they sleep.
"As long as I can recall, I put one foot out when I sleep," says Lisa, 55. "It keeps my body temperature regulated and cool."
"I can't sleep with my feet covered," says Michelle, 37. "Even camping."
Is there any scientific basis to leaving one foot outside the covers to stay cool and, therefore, sleep better? As it happens, there is.
"A cool sleeping environment is an important ingredient for obtaining a good night's sleep," says Natalie Dautovich, environmental scholar for the National Sleep Foundation. "Some people find that sleeping with a hand or foot outside of the bed covers can help with body cooling, as heat dissipates quicker through the body extremities."
There's nothing really special about your feet that makes them a good body part to air out, says Winter, but since you can't exactly sleep with your knees or stomach outside the covers, the extremities are a convenient choice.
And as for the claim that heat messes with your sleep, that's definitely true. "Generally, cool environments lead to a deeper state of sleep and less awakening during the night," she says.
The sticking-your-feet-out technique may not be for everyone, but if your sleep is suffering from the heat, it's one of several options you can try. You can also get cool gel pads or pillows to keep your head and the rest of your body at the right temperature, Dr. Winter suggests.
Since sleep affects so many areas of your life, it's worth spending some time to figure out what can get you the most restful sleep—and making a habit of it.
