9 Tips for Sleeping Snugly through Harsh Winters

how to sleep well in winter

Feeling cozy and warm in your bed during a cold winter day is arguably one of the most satisfying sensations in the world. Imagine it. You’re lying on your bed, face buried against a fresh-smelling pillow. It’s snowing outside, and the early morning skies are dark. You pull the comforter in tighter and let your body snuggle against its softness. Indeed, few things can compare.

Unfortunately, getting a cozy wintry night’s sleep could be difficult for some people. They sometimes feel too cold, too hot, or simply uncomfortable. If you’re one of them, you’re in luck. There are many things that you can do to sleep snugly throughout a cold night. Here are some tips to help you get started.

Adjust Room Temperature

Before seeking out duvets and layering on clothes, you need to check the temperature inside your bedroom first. The right room temperature is vital in ensuring a good rest under the covers. If there’s any way you can adjust indoor temperature, it should be on the top of your checklist.

Try to set the room temperature between 15 or 19 degrees Celsius for a cozy night. If your house has a thermostat, adjust the temperature an hour before going to bed. If you don’t have temperature control options, preserve the warmth in your room by ensuring that windows are shut and sealed, putting thick curtains, or using a heater with a timer.

Wear Comfortable Pajamas

Everyone has a go-to set of sleeping clothes. It could be an old favorite shirt or a pair of sweatpants you’ve had since high school. That said, there’s something comforting about having a proper set of pajamas in your wardrobe. If you’re keen on buying women’s pajama tops, there are plenty of options available in different designs, styles, and fabrics.

In terms of keeping warm, wearing a pair of pure cotton or silk pajamas is the way to go. These fabrics are more effective insulators and are more effective for keeping you warm compared to synthetic materials. Silk is especially good at helping regulate your body heat as it can help you stay warm or cool as needed. Though they may seem appropriate for winter, you may want to avoid wearing especially thick clothing to bed.

Dress in Layers

Putting on multiple layers (instead of just one thick one) is the most practical tip in keeping warm. If you’re wearing your pajamas, you can put on a sweater on top of a comfortable shirt. For your legs, you can don a pair of leggings for an extra measure of warmth.

That said, not everyone is keen on dressing in layers. After all, putting on more clothes can restrict your movements to a degree and could be troublesome to remove if you feel warmer later on in the night. Instead, try using a comforter or add more blankets instead. If you ever feel too hot, simply remove the topmost blanket layer .

Take a Hot Bath Before Going to Bed

When it’s cold out, it could be tempting to skip bathing and opt for washdown instead. However, several studies have shown that taking a hot bath before going to bed can actually improve sleep quality. One such study, in a review conducted by researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, found that taking a hot bath 90 minutes before bedtime could help people fall asleep faster because the warmth causes the body to become more relaxed. Thus, always set aside time for a cozy hot bath, and make sure to dry your hair first before getting under the covers.

Invest in Quality Comforters

Everybody loves snuggling against a comforter on a cold day. It’s like receiving a soft, warm hug that makes you feel all cozy. Having a clean comforter in your closet is a big plus when winter comes.

Comforters come in all shapes and sizes. While you can always buy a cheap comforter, purchasing a quality comforter is an investment in quality sleep. The higher price tag is often worth it because you get better quality materials that feel more comfortable and provide more warmth on wintry days.

Before purchasing a comforter, make sure to check its tog rating first. The tog rating is a scale (ranging from one to 15) that shows how effective the comforter is in trapping warmth. The higher the rating, the warmer it would feel. For a cooler option, go for a comforter with a tog rating ranging from one to 4.5. If you live in a colder area, however, going for one with a higher tog rating would be a smarter investment.

Use a Hot Water Bottle

The humble hot water bottle could become your new best friend on a cold night. Using a hot water bottle may seem unusual, but it is a very affordable way of keeping warm. It is also safer to use than an electric blanket, which can be used to warm your bed but are not designed to be left on while sleeping.

After placing hot water into the bottle, wrap it in a small towel to provide insulation and prevent scalding. You can also repurpose old socks or purchase a specialty wrap and place the hot water bottle inside. You can then keep the hot water bottle near your back, by your stomach, or under your feet. As the night progresses, the water in the bottle will eventually cool down, so you don’t have to worry about overheating.

Replace Your Bedding Weekly

Never underestimate how effective clean sheets can be for a good night’s sleep. According to a 2012 study done by the US National Sleep Foundation, around 73% of their respondents reported having better sleep with fresh sheets.

Hence, make sure to replace your bedding consistently on a weekly basis. Changing the sheets can feel like a chore when you’re tired from work, so do it on a day when you have time. Take a weekend, for example. In this manner, you can start the next week with better sleep and sufficient rest.

Put on Some Bed Socks

Compared to the torso, it’s easier for the extremities of our bodies to become colder. That’s why you’re likely to feel nippy on your hands and feet first. It’s easy to keep our hands warm under the comforter, but feet can be tricky. Perhaps you often wake to find that your feet have slipped out of the comforter while sleeping.

An easy fix for this problem is to put on some bed socks. If regular socks aren’t cutting it for you, consider buying a pair of thick socks for extra warmth. As a precautionary measure, you can also tuck the bottom hem of your pajamas into your socks to ensure that there are no gaps for the cold to seep through.

Run the Ceiling Fan in Reverse

Turning on a ceiling fan when you’re trying to keep warm may seem counterintuitive, but there is a good reason for it. Depending on the direction the fan turns, it can make the room colder or warmer. During the summer months, ceiling fans run counterclockwise to create a downdraft and release a cooling breeze. This is the original direction that a lot of ceiling fans are set in. However, in the winter months, running the ceiling fan clockwise at low speed creates an updraft. This motion pushes down the warm air rising to the ceiling and makes the room feel warmer.

Apart from helping to keep the room warm, running the fan allows the air in the room to circulate. This may also help you to breathe better. Cold weather can cause the air to feel dry, which affects your breathing. Better air circulation can help, though it may be best to add a humidifier into the room to improve overall air quality.

Whether you’ve been having challenges with sleeping through cold winter nights or just want to make bedtime more cozy, the tips above are sure to help. Better sleep is possible by making a few changes in your bedroom habits and investing in sleep accessories. Always remember that quality sleep is crucial to people’s health. No matter what season it is, getting a good rest should be a priority.

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