Could Your Thermostat Be The Key to a Better Night’s Sleep?

You may have already heard that you should stick to a schedule and avoid caffeine, among other things. But did you know that some research has also suggested you adjust the temperature of your room?

Cooler room temperatures could mean better sleep

A study that looked at the environmental and behavioral factors that influence sleep habits seems to indicate that the ideal temperature for sleeping is between 60 and 68°F, as cited on the New York Times website.

In addition, another study found that insomniac’s core body temperatures are typically warmer than normal sleepers.

Both studies seem to point to cooler temperatures than are typically found in a home contributing to a better night’s sleep.

Here’s where your thermostat comes in

While lowering your room temperature to 60°F would likely cost you much more money than you’re willing to spend, you can still drop the thermostat a few degrees at night to help you get asleep faster and stay asleep longer.

And a programmable thermostat can automatically drop the thermostat for you every night, so you can just set it once and forget about it (isn’t technology great?).

Here are some other tips to help your feel cooler at night:

• Take a cold shower before bed – This has also been shown to improve sleep patterns
• Run your ceiling fan – The wind chill can help you feel cooler
• Consider a zoned system – This way you can just cool your bedroom rather than your whole home. Mini-split systems can be perfect for this.

But isn’t that opposite of what we’ve said before?

For those that have read some of our other Cool Today blog articles, this advice may seem contradictory to the advice we’ve previously given on using a programmable thermostat to raise the thermostat a few degrees at night while you’re asleep.

Here’s the difference: raising the thermostat can help you save money on AC bills. But lower the temperature could help you sleep better. Yes, you’ll also be paying a little more on your energy bills, but it could be worth it.

Cool Today is the air conditioning company Florida homeowner's trust. For information on any of our products or services, contact us online or call (800) 226-2636.

Posted in: Tips