Making The Case For Sleeping With Socks On

What do you do to stave off the cold? You wear socks. Socks are part and parcel of everyone's winter wardrobe, and it's not like you have a better choice to thaw out icy tootsies than socking up. Nonetheless, if you think socks are nothing more than a foot garment that warms your toes and absorbs feet sweat when wearing shoes, you're in for a real surprise. 

Going beyond the hot-and-cold issue as well as fashion, socks can be used as a sleeping hack. Socking up for bedtime, even when it's not winter, can help you sleep faster and enjoy a more pleasant sleep, a study in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found. In this experiment, participants who warmed their feet with socks not only fell asleep faster but also reported better quality of sleep. If you have a hard time settling into sleep even after a foot bath and piping-hot milk, you might want to set your bedroom thermostat to a cooler temperature and put on a pair of socks. 

According to the Sleep Foundation, wearing socks can also help reduce the symptoms of Raynaud's syndrome, a functional peripheral arterial condition that causes your toes and fingers to feel numb. Generally speaking, wearing socks to bed gives you numerous health benefits, among others. Here are some science-backed reasons why socks are your sleep's best friend.

Let's break down the reason why warm feet help you take a siesta faster and deeper. As a part of your sleep-wake cycle, your body naturally reduces your core temperature towards the end of the day as you're bound to get your bedtime rest, sleep disorders specialist Dr. Michelle Drerup tells the Cleveland Clinic. However, if your feet are cold, your blood vessels will constrict, and your body will send more heat to your core areas. A rise in body temperature, which is meant for the time leading to your full wakefulness, makes it harder to settle into sleep.

The general rule of thumb is that we sleep better when we're cooler. That's why many health experts will tell you not to work out close to bedtime lest your body is heated up and you can't sleep. To counter cold feet and a rise in body heat, put on a fluffy pair of socks. "By making your feet warmer, you're opening up blood vessels to help cool down the rest of the body," says Dr. Drerup. When your feet are warm, blood circulation is boosted throughout the body, and more heat is released to help you sleep better. To fine-tune your body temperature for shorter sleep latency and better sleep outcomes, combine bedtime socks with a footbath of 40 degrees Celsius for 20 minutes before sleep. To help your feet stay soft and prevent cracks, apply lotion to your feet before socking up.

You can go to bed wearing a pair composed of breathable fabrics such as cotton, merino wool, cashmere, or bamboo. But you shouldn't sleep in compression socks unless specifically instructed so by your doctor. Otherwise, you might run the risk of developing blood clots and varicose veins, Slumber and Smile suggests. In case you're wearing heat socks, try not to overheat them lest you burn your skin.

Nothing beats a good night's sleep, but a satisfying sex life is the icing on the cake. When you feel your sex drive has depleted, a humble pair of socks might save the day. Yup! We know the idea of pairing socks with hanky panky doesn't quite add up. Before you dismiss bumping uglies in fluffy socks for better sex as a Reddit myth, however, know that it has been backed by science. A study conducted at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands found that 80% of participants aged 19 to 49 who were given socks were able to climax, compared to only 50% who reached the big O without socks, per Get Maude. In other words, socks are a tried-and-true step to better sex. 

According to Medical News Today, wearing socks overnight can also help reduce and avoid hot flashes, a typical symptom of menopause that includes a sudden sense of great heat followed by perspiration, flushed skin, and palpitations.

Ultimately, a good night's sleep is essential for good health. Lack of quality sleep, on the other hand, can take a toll on your heart as well as your mental health. Temperature plays a big part in your overall sleep quality. A sweet spot for sleep starts with a cool room followed by a foot bath to warm your skin and a comfy pair of socks to aid heat dissipation before you snatch forty winks.