April 11, 2023

By: Cathy Peterson

Have you tried all sorts of products like melatonin, special teas, and weighted blankets in an attempt to get more sleep? Do you relish slipping on those cozy jammies before bed and snuggling in beneath the blankets only to lay there staring at the ceiling? Are you tired of tossing and turning all night, struggling to find the perfect sleep temperature? If so, it’s time to liberate yourself from the sleepwear and embrace the glory of naked sleep. Sleeping in the buff comes with all sorts of unexpected benefits. It mainly helps to lower your core temperature and regulate its rhythm, making it easier to fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and enjoy the rewards. Intrigued yet? Read on to learn how your body will benefit when you start sleeping naked.

Felice Gersh, obstetrician-gynecologist explained, “Sleep onset is related to one’s temperature. Being naked helps by lowering skin temperature, and that can facilitate sleep.” (1) So it seems you can expedite your trip to snooze land by ditching your jammies. As for bedroom temperature, it should be set somewhere in the zone of 65 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit, as advised by Dr. Craig Heller, Stanford biology professor. (3)

Your awake time and sleep time are all part of your circadian rhythm, the 24-hour cycle that affects the proper functioning of your body. (4) Dr. Takahashi of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute says, “Even small changes in body temperature can send a powerful signal to the clocks in our bodies.” (5) “Being naked keeps one cooler and avoids the bunching up of sleeping garments” notes Dr. Felice Gersh. (2) So if you’ve ever woken up in the middle of the night twisted up in your sleepwear, you will relate all too well to this unfortunate circumstance. Eliminate the midnight pajama wedgies to get a better quality of sleep!

If you fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, then it’s fair to say your overall mental health will be positively affected. Lack of sleep and depression go hand in hand since they drive each other. WebMD has noted it’s hard to effectively treat psychological conditions without also addressing sleep issues. It is believed one of the first ways to combat anxiety and depression is to establish healthy sleep patterns. Since sleeping naked can actually improve sleep habits, it is undeniable there is a link between better sleep and improved mental health. (6)

Not getting enough sleep can increase one’s chances of developing an impaired fasting glucose number. Eventually, this can lead to a potential diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The American Heart Association found that a lack of sleep can increase blood pressure, a factor that plays a significant part in heart disease. (7) If sleeping naked can help you fall asleep quicker and enhance your quality of slumber, then it’s reasonable to say it could also lower your chances of developing serious diseases, since sleep can help to heal the body.

Dr. Gina Lundberg of Emory Women’s Heart Center told the American Heart Association, “People who are sleep deprived have slower metabolism and more difficulty losing weight. They also have the effect of not wanting to exercise or participate in other healthy habits. “ (12) It’s noted that women who slept just five hours or less a night were more likely to gain weight (33 pounds or more) or reach obesity versus those who slept at least seven hours each night. (11) It would seem that sleeping more helps to control cravings, kickstart your metabolism, and reduce your appetite.

We’ve all heard about the tighty whitey vs boxer debate. Well, it has been proven that some types of restrictive underwear can in fact limit a man’s sperm count. (10) These findings result from a study that followed 656 men and found that those who wore loose fitting boxers had a higher sperm count with more active “swimmers”. Men in the tight fitting underwear showed elevated scrotal temperatures that negatively affected their testicular function. Therefore, it would be safe to say that sleeping commando for males would help improve their fertility.

A study from the aptly named Journal of Happiness (9) states that being naked overall can promote feelings of positivity. And if ditching the jammies can improve your health and lifestyle in general, then you are bound to feel more confident. If you are less stressed, you may be able to live easier and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. If you are reaping the benefits of better sleep, you are likely to feel more empowered with an improved self-esteem.

As if the above benefits aren’t enough to have you strip off those undergarments, sleeping naked can also reduce risk of infection, improve your skin, and ignite your sex life! But overall, it’s the ultimate act of self-care because it’s free, it’s easy and it feels great. So why not free your body and embrace the benefits of sleeping in the buff since it’s a scientifically-backed way to feel a lot healthier. From improving your sleep quality to increasing your body confidence, there are countless reasons to ditch the pajamas and let it all hang out. It will do your body good to embrace the bare necessities of a good night’s sleep!