Woman wearing a pair of thick socks in bed (illustrative image), PHOTO: Valerio Rosati / Panthermedia / Profimedia Images
Several small studies suggest that a simple change in sleeping habits can help sleep and even its quality, reports The New York Times.
A 2018 Korean study involving six men in their mid-20s found that they fell asleep in an average of 7.5 minutes when wearing socks, compared to about 15 minutes when not. The study also suggested that the socks allowed the men to sleep longer and wake up less during the night.
In a 2007 Dutch scientific article, eight people with no sleep problems, ages 21 to 39, fell asleep in about 11 minutes on average, compared to 16 minutes when they wore socks to bed. The improvement was somewhat less dramatic in a group of eight elderly but healthy people (ages 56 to 80), probably because age influences how people perceive temperature and its changes.
Roy Raymann, a Ph.D. and lead author of the 2007 study, explained that when the skin is warm, information from the body's temperature sensors reaches an area of the brain involved in both sleep and temperature regulation. He says that in the brain, warm skin is interpreted as conducive to sleep, and cold skin as stimulating wakefulness.
“That's partly why it's so easy to fall asleep on the beach on a hot summer day, [în ciuda] strong light”, he explained.
Why socks are preferable to extra blankets in bed
In a cool bedroom, warm skin also triggers sleep by encouraging heat to dissipate into the air, leading to a drop in the body's internal temperature, which is important for falling asleep.
And what does this have to do with socks? The legs are full of special blood vessels that connect small arteries with small veins. That allows for impressive blood flow close to the skin's surface, which in turn helps warm it.
Putting on socks is more effective than adding blankets because socks are a layer of insulation that stays in place even when you move your feet. “They make sure your feet stay warm and there's a constant signal to the brain that it's safe to sleep,” Raymann said.
The idea of special sleeping socks is not new. The British company The White Company has been selling their cashmere bed socks since 1996, and they are a bestseller all year round, despite the high price.
What is important to know when choosing the socks to go to bed with
But there is no need for special (and expensive) cashmere socks. Almost any old pair of socks will do – as long as they are mostly made of a soft, breathable material like cotton or wool and have imperfect elasticity – making them more comfortable around the ankles.
The article in The New York Times is signed by Joanne Chen, a journalist specializing in lifestyle, who states that wearing socks to bed dramatically improved her sleep and that it even helped her get rid of insomnia. In addition, she explains other advantages:
“I've gained precious seconds in the morning by wearing my long-discontinued Adidas socks to bed at night – so I can just throw on my training clothes and trainers and head straight to the gym as soon as I wake up. My boot socks work really well too. They're roomy and warm enough without getting stuffy.”
“I admit, I wouldn't have picked any of these outfits when my husband and I were just starting out. But we've been married for over 12 years, so that's okay. He's just happy that he's not throwing away unnecessary piles of blankets,” she jokes.
