Sleeping Tips: Stick Your legs Out While Sleeping

Do you ever have trouble falling asleep? There have been a lot of studies that led to the development of a few ways in which you can help you go to the dreamland or temporary nothingness. Falling asleep has a lot to do with the conditions in which you are trying to go to sleep. These conditions may involve the time of the day, how tired you are, and most importantly the temperature. In this article let's take a look at how having just one or both of your feet out of the covers can help you get some effective and sound sleep. There are many sleeping tips to improve your overall health.

A Few Sleeping Tips

What happens when you sleep is, the body tries to regulate the temperature by bringing it down a couple of degrees from than normal body temperature. This way not only does your body helps you go to sleep faster, but it also helps you stay healthy. For some people sleeping with a blanket is a necessity and that is why you must've noticed if you're among those people that in the middle of the night your feet involuntarily are sticking out of the blanket. So to summarize this:

• Your body is an automated machine that contributes to helping you fall asleep.
• It brings down the temperature just a few degrees below normal because the human body feels sleepy in cooler temperatures.
• This is done by venting out heat from the extremities of the body such as your fingers and feet.
• By bringing the temperature down not only is the body making it easier for you to fall asleep, but it is also helping it maintain a healthy functionality.

Also read about: The Need For A Good Night Sleep.

Some Facts About Body Temperature

The sleep cycle is heavily dependent on the circadian rhythm which decides when you fall asleep and when you wake up. Circadian rhythm is also known as the body clock. By regulating the temperature of the body it signals you when to wake up and when to go to sleep. Below are some interesting facts about body temperature and circadian rhythm.

• Circadian rhythm is responsible for telling the body when to wake up and when to go to sleep.
• This rhythm takes cues from the environment when it's bright it signals the body to wake up by raising the body temperature.
• Similarly, when you turn the lights off the body is signaled to go to sleep and its temperature drops a little.

You may also read about Symptoms of Sleep Apnea

How Do You Sleep Better With Your Feet Outside The Covers

As established earlier, cool temperatures help you fall asleep faster. There are people who find themselves sweating profusely at night, yet they cannot go to sleep without a blanket or some sort of cover over their bodies. While studies have shown that sleeping with heavy blankets has helped people suffering from insomnia, it is still essential to keep at least one foot out of the covers. Here's why.

1. Thermoregulation

Since we are a warm-blooded species we need to maintain a certain normal temperature throughout the day for various activities. So, if you find yourself sweating under the blanket, one of the possible reasons is that your body is trying to regulate its temperature.

• The body regulates its temperature by venting out excessive heat to ensure normal functioning of the body.
• Since most of our body, including the extremities, are inside the blanket, there is no opening through which the body can release the excess heat.
• As a result, the body releases sweat, making it harder for you to sleep.

2. Blood Flow

When you're awake and functioning the body temperature is high which promotes fast and free movement of the blood through the body, on the other hand, when you are sleeping, the body temperature falls down which results in restricted blood flow which causes dizziness and sleep. Hence,

• When you are under the blanket the temperature of the body rises making it easier for the blood to flow more freely.
• In order to maintain a good night's sleep, it is essential to keep the body temperature low, restricting blood flow.
• Hence by having one foot outside the covers, you are helping the body maintain a certain low temperature and low blood flow which are two essential keys to a sound sleep.

Also, read about: Why A Good Night's Sleep Must Be Your Priority.

Some Other Tips On How To Prepare For A Good Night's Sleep

While having a foot outside the cover is helping you sleep better, there are still certain activities that will help you prepare the body for a good night's sleep. A lot of people ask for sleeping tips because they could find themselves in a good position with respect to health.

1. Use Bright Lights Throughout The Day

Getting exposure to bright light during the day keeps the circadian rhythm on track and as established earlier, this is what helps you fall asleep on time at night. The light has a greater significance on our eyes and circadian rhythm for sleeping better.

2. Turn All Your Gadgets Off Before Going To Sleep

Most of the screens give off a blue light which tells the brain to stay awake as it thinks you're still working. That is why it is recommended to avoid the use of phones or laptops in bed if you want to go to sleep. It is one of the most crucial sleeping tips before going to bed.

3. Try Reading Books Or Listening To Music

Another sleeping tip is reading books to help you tune out the outside world helping you release a stress-inducing hormone called cortisol. Needless to say that books make you smart. When you are reading a book your cognitive functions also improve significantly over time. In a much similar way, music also helps release stress and is especially helpful for people with sleeping disorders. Also Read: Cortisol Level Test - Understanding The Science

4. Take A Warm Shower

This again has to do with the thermoregulation of the body. When you step out of a warm and steamy shower, the body tries to quickly bring down the temperature which are helpful sleeping tips for getting ready for bed. The same could be said for a hot beverage taken before bed regulating the body temperature in a similar way to that of a shower.

Takeaway

What we can establish as a crux of this article is the fact that your body needs a cool temperature to fall asleep, and having your feet outside the covers is one of the ways in which you can achieve that. Uncovering your legs from the blanket feel you calm and can say these sleeping tips will enhance your pattern. So, to conclude, I leave you with the words of Ernest Hemingway, "I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know? If you have sleep issues, then book an online appointment at Asian Hospital Faridabad.