When you are ready to head to sleep, the first thing you are going to want to do is to slip underneath the covers so you can get to sleep. However, what happens when you don’t sleep with a blanket? That is something that is unimaginable when it comes to cold weather but not so unimaginable when it is in the middle of summer and the A/C is not powering up. The thing to remember is that your body while sleeping undergoes many different temperature fluctuations because the circadian rhythm is connected to the temperature and your temperature does drop right before you sleep.
The temperature keeps falling through the night and when it does not feel cold enough to require a blanket, you will likely want to stay under a blanket. Even in the middle of summer when it is warm, don’t be surprised if you wake up in the night somewhat chilled if you are not sleeping with a blanket. Therefore, you will find at least a lightweight blanket to use so you can go back to sleep. The gist of it is, if you can stay under the blankets, it will help keep your sleep cycle doing and will help prevent any sleep interruptions because it will keep you warm.
When Triggering The Sleep Response, Sleeping Under A Blanket Can Be Key
You have to remember that your sleep quality does not necessarily depend on the temperature. As the blanket goes quite beyond keeping your body warm. Because the majority of people do sleep with a blanket, sleep pairs with using a blanket and it can prime the brain and body for sleep. Therefore, the blanket does help trigger a sleep response. That means even when it is hot on those summer nights, and the fans and the A/C are not enough, you will want to cover yourself with a lightweight blanket so you can get that sleep response. Therefore, when you sleep without a blanket, you are only causing yourself nights of sleep interruption which will only hurt your quality of sleep.
However, since most people are conditioned to sleep with a blanket because they have done so since birth, what about those who struggle to sleep even with a blanket? They may have anxiety which can lead to insomnia, so what is the solution for people such as those in that position?
Weighted Blankets Are Good For Those Who Struggle With Anxiety
Anxiety can keep one up even if they do their best to keep their hygiene clean. Therefore, one solution to help those with anxiety, which can come with other neurological disorders such as autism and ADHD that lead to insomnia is to use a weighted blanket. You get a blanket that is ten percent of your body weight. It is filled with natural fibers or glass beads as when you put the weighted blanket over you, you will feel as if you are being hugged which is extra comforting. The weight hits pressure points that help with relaxation and can help the cortisol levels decrease which will help you sleep. The same idea happens when you get a massage.
The added weight will also help increase the levels of serotonin in addition to reducing cortisol so it can put you into a relaxed and happy state. And not only those who struggle with anxiety or neurological issues benefit from them. Many people who have been stressed during the pandemic have used weighted blankets because of the stress that it caused. Either way, remember that you need blankets because that is going to trigger the sleep response that you need.
