Sleep is an important part of your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It is recommended that adults get at least seven to nine hours of sleep each night. Not only is the amount of sleep you get important, but the quality of sleep is as well. People often report getting better sleep in the winter, which is likely true as the seasons impact sleep. Below you will find what makes winter sleep different and why it may be healthier for you.
What Makes Winter Sleep Different?
Temperature:
Your core body temperature goes down by a few degrees in order to initiate sleep. As the temperature drops in winter it makes it easier for your core temperature to drop as well. This will make it easier for you to fall asleep at night in the winter. The best sleep temperature is roughly 65 degrees Fahrenheit. So keeping your space around that temperature at night can help with falling and staying asleep.
Sunrise and Sunset:
The sunrise and sunset are factors in your sleep regulation as exposure to light stimulates you to wake up. The sun sets and rises earlier than in the wintertime, which means that you’ll likely be impacted by the change in daylight time. This is because the darkness stimulates melatonin and can make you sleep earlier. If you want to be an early bird, this is great as you can rest and rise early. However, if you need to stay awake later in the night, you may find it difficult to get quality sleep in the winter.
Activities Levels:
The summer brings a lot of physical activities and opportunities for time outdoors. Physical exertion throughout the day can make it easier to fall and stay asleep at night. While some factors are not on your side in terms of summer sleep, the increase in physical activity may compensate. However, people are often less active in the winter, which could work against them.
Stress:
Another factor that impacts sleep in the winter is stress. The holidays can bring stress due to finances, family, and extra gatherings with friends and coworkers. Stress can inevitably disrupt your sleep as compared to summer as there are no major holidays as compared to December and January.
Meals:
Wintertime often brings holiday food and just more warm comfort food in general. A diet filled with a lot of heavy meals can impact your sleep. If you are eating meals that take a long time to digest and not giving yourself enough time before bed, your quality of sleep could suffer. This is because instead of resting, your body is working on digesting your food. The old myth that eating late makes you gain weight isn’t entirely accurate. It’s not that eating late increases your weight, but eating late causes your body to get less quality sleep leading to overeating the next day to compensate for being tired.
Treatment Options for Poor Sleep
If you are not getting good rest all year round, it’s likely not the seasons changing that are causing the problem. You may be suffering from a sleep disorder that will require treatment. One of the most common sleep issues is snoring. You may to know you are doing it, but your partner or roommate will likely let you know if it’s an issue. This is an issue that can be treated fairly easily. Snoring treatment can help you and your partner get a better night’s sleep.
Sleep Apnea Treatment New York
Sleep issues can impact your daily life, both physically and mentally. If you are struggling with sleep and want to discuss treatment options, contact Sleep Doctor MD. They can provide support and solutions for whatever sleep issue you may be experiencing, including snoring and sleep apnea treatment New York. Dr. Mayan Shukla is a sleep doctor with over fifteen years of experience working with patients who have struggled with sleep. Dr. Shukla is focused on getting his patients back to their full potential and getting a good night’s rest. If you are experiencing issues with sleep, schedule an appointment with Dr. Shukla and his team!
