You’ve probably read a few blogs with tips about how to fall asleep faster and stay that way throughout the night. What you may not have read, however, is that your thermostat is a key player in how well you sleep.
The Connection Between Temperature and Sleep
Your body’s circadian rhythm depends on daylight and temperature. As the temperature drops throughout the day, your body prepares for sleep. Your core body temperature tends to be highest when you’re awake and active. Overnight and especially in the morning, this temperature drops.
These temperature changes may alter your circadian rhythm. Your body temperature begins decreasing roughly two hours before you go to sleep. Melatonin, a hormone that controls your circadian rhythm to regulate your wake-sleep cycle, will also increase. As a general rule, warmer temperatures tend to move your sleep schedule forward, while colder temperatures usually delay it.
The Ideal Temperature for Sleep
While everyone’s ideal bedroom temperature varies, the Sleep Foundation considers 65 degrees Fahrenheit to be most suitable for sleep, leaving some room for you to make adjustments according to your preferences. That said, try adjusting your thermostat between 65 and 68 degrees to determine what’s best for you.
You may need to have a few test nights to discover the most comfortable temperature. If it’s too cold for your liking, you may have a bad night’s sleep. Your heart rate could increase, which can hinder relaxation. You also won’t reach your target body temperature, which further prevents you from sleeping well. Not to mention, your body might not properly go through the sleep cycles.
Save Money by Using Your Smart Settings
If you’re worried about the cost of running the air conditioning, use the smart settings on your thermostat to reduce the expense. Begin by figuring out how long you typically sleep in one night. Use this information to program your smart thermostat settings.
In general, program the thermostat to start running the AC unit about a half hour to an hour before you typically go to bed. Then, schedule the unit to turn off about two or three hours before you usually wake up. Ultimately, the room stays cool while you sleep, and you’ll save yourself money because you won’t have to run the air conditioner the entire night.
An additional cost-friendly tip is to keep your bedroom door closed all night to hold the cold air in and block out warm air from entering. You could also try blackout curtains. During the day, they prevent the sun from entering your room and heating it up. As a result, your air conditioner doesn’t have to work as hard to cool it down.
Lastly, consider adding a fan to the room to keep the cold air circulating. This is, of course, if you don’t have ceiling fans already.
If you don’t already have a smart thermostat, you’re really missing out. Now is the time to procure one so that you can improve your sleep and feel more alert during the day. Schedule a thermostat installation with Cornerstone Pros and allow our team to help you improve the comfort in your Tampa Bay, FL home.