The seven or eight hours you spend doing absolutely nothing might be the most important part of your day. Getting adequate sleep means you lower your stress levels, your risk of developing depression and even your weight. With sleep being so essential, it makes sense to do everything you can to improve your quality of sleep. But apart from the obvious comfortable mattress and dark surroundings, what you wear to bed can also determine how well you sleep. Remember these seven tips to help you dress for the best sleep of your life.
1. Say Goodbye To Your Bra
Nothing quite beats the feeling of coming home after a long day at work and removing your bra. However, there are women who actually go to sleep with their bra still on. While sleeping with your bra sounds all kinds of uncomfortable, it can also be harmful. Bras squeeze your body and tighten the diaphragm. If your diaphragm can’t expand fully, it severely limits your ability to take deep, restorative breaths while you sleep. Wearing a bra to sleep can also increase the likelihood of you developing cysts. If you’re wearing the same bra you wore all day to sleep, the sweat and dirt that has accumulated in there can give rise to fungal infections.
2. Don’t Sleep Tight
When it comes to sleepwear, always choose comfort over sexiness. Sure a tight little teddy and skimpy shorts make you look good, but they won’t give you a good night’s sleep. Tight clothes prevent your skin from breathing by cutting off circulation. If your waistband leaves an indentation on your skin the next morning, it’s a sign that it’s too tight for you to wear. Tight clothes also lower the production of melatonin, an important hormone which is responsible for your sleep cycle. Your old pajamas might not look glamorous, but they’re much better for your sleep.
3. Go Commando
Sleeping without underwear is a good option regardless of your sex, but it’s especially beneficial for women. Because of the way a woman’s body is built, they’re especially prone to yeast infections. Bacteria and yeast love damp, moist places and thrive there. When you sleep with your underwear, you’re restricting airflow to your privates, making it even more damp. This can encourage germs to populate where you least want them to. While sleeping without underwear can be strange at first if you’re not used to it, you’ll soon grow to love it.
4. Wear Socks If It’s Cold
Warm feet equals a good night’s sleep. If you live in a very cold climate, sleep can be difficult because of the temperature. However, the solution isn’t to heap on more blankets, it’s to wear socks instead. Keeping your feet warm raises your overall internal temperature and prevents you from feeling cold. Even if it isn’t winter yet, sleeping with socks on still has its benefits. It can lock in moisture and prevent your heels from developing cracks and calluses.
5. Cotton Makes For The Best Sleepwear
Ditch synthetic fabrics and go for all-natural cotton instead. Cotton is a light, loose fabric that is extremely comfortable to sleep in. It doesn’t irritate the skin, which is very important if you have sensitive skin that breaks out in rashes frequently. The natural fibers also lets your skin breathe and encourages good circulation. However, in colder temperature, cotton might not be the best pick because it doesn’t provide any insulation. In warmer climates though, cotton is perfect because it’s absorbent, light and airy.
6. Remove All Your Jewelry
The right jewelry can spruce up any outfit, but not your jammies. The main problem with jewelry is that it’s rarely ever pure. Most pieces of jewelry (especially inexpensive ones) are usually bulked up with nickel and chromium. Nickel in particular can irritate skin easily, cause it to develop rashes. Jewelry with sharp edges can also pose a danger because you can unknowingly cut yourself on it. So when it’s time to go to bed, remove all your bits of bling before you tuck yourself in.
7. Consider Sleeping In The Nude
Sleeping naked can give your sex life a boost, but that’s not all. The best way to avoid rashes and the negative effects of tight clothing, is to not wear any clothes at all. Sleeping naked can also lower your body temperature, which has been seen to improve sleep quality. Melatonin production also increases when you sleep without any clothing restrictions, which ultimately improves your sleep cycle.
