Why We Can’t Help Sticking Our Foot Out of Bed at Night

We’ve all experienced the all-consuming struggle to fall asleep, and strangely enough, keeping our foot uncovered is what often helps do the trick. The mystery behind what makes us do this lies in the fact that the ideal temperature for a good night’s sleep is 65°F and our feet are a gateway into that perfect environment.

We at Bright Side got to the bottom of this odd sleeping habit.

It helps regulate our body’s temperature.

Our feet are actually the perfect cooling mechanisms. According to a sleep expert, they contain a link between arteries and veins unlike any other part of our body, “which dilate in warm temperatures, allowing more blood to reach the surface of the skin in order to cool it down.”

In addition, feet are hairless, so they stay cool throughout the night. As a result, our body temperature balances itself out and we can sleep comfortably.

Sticking your foot out helps you to fall asleep faster.

In order to sleep, our body temperature needs to drop by 1 to 2 degrees. That’s why we struggle with staying awake when it’s too warm — our bodies fight against overheating. That’s why it’s crucial to keep ourselves cool at night, and sticking a foot out of your blanket can be enough. The sooner you allow your body to cool down, the sooner you can drift off to dreamland.

It’s the most comfortable position if you need to sleep under a blanket.

There are several different reasons why most of us can’t fall asleep without a blanket. But the common problem we all experience is that it gets too hot, so we find ourselves in a catch-22 situation. Uncovering our feet is the perfect solution to this dilemma and helps us cozy up under a blanket while keeping our bodies cool throughout the night.

Do you stick your feet out during sleep? Does it work when you’re struggling to fall asleep?