Most of the time, the OGT Team is a pretty easygoing bunch, but once in a while a conversation topic will spark a pretty heated debate. That’s precisely what happened after someone mentioned wearing socks to sleep.
I wasn’t aware before that that sleeping in socks might be a polarizing issue, and the whole debate made me wonder about the real pros and cons of sleeping in socks!
Related: This Is the Only Thing That Helps Me Sleep Without Feeling Groggy
In this post, I’ll be sharing what my research revealed about real benefits you can enjoy when you wear socks to sleep. (And don’t worry—if you’re really not a fan of wearing socks to sleep, I’ve included a few alternatives as well!)
Superstitions About Sleeping in Socks
While many people will or won’t wear socks to sleep based simply on their personal preference, others may be swayed by superstitious beliefs. For example, one anti-sock superstition suggests that sleeping with socks on will lead to nightmares.
But not all sleep-related superstitions about socks are so negative. In fact, one superstition states that sleeping with a sock tied around your neck will cure a sore throat! (That sounds like a choking hazard to me, but I digress.) And others believe that wearing a pair of wet socks to sleep is a surefire way to cure a fever or even a hangover!
And while these sock superstitions are mostly old wives’ tales and urban legends, that doesn’t mean that sleeping in socks doesn’t have real effects. In fact, there are actually four good reasons you may want to start doing it yourself!
Related: 9 Surprising Old Wives’ Tales That Turned Out to Be True
4 Surprising Benefits of Sleeping in Socks
1. Fall Asleep Faster
According to the National Sleep Foundation, warming your feet before you go to bed can act like a signal to your brain that it’s time for sleep. And a 2007 study seems to support that idea, which observed that participants who were sleeping in socks experienced faster sleep onset.
2. Prevent Hot Flashes
Wearing socks helps with the process of vasodilation, or the opening of your blood vessels. Dilated blood vessels make it easier for your blood to flow around your body. And good blood flow helps your body maintain a consistent temperature while you sleep, preventing things like hot flashes or cold sweats from interrupting your precious sleeping time.
3. Improve Cracked Heels
Tired of dealing with painfully dry heels and feet? Apply a moisturizing lotion to your feet before bedtime, then pull on a pair of cotton socks. The socks will help keep the lotion from rubbing off or drying out, and you’ll wake up with softer, smoother feet!
4. Better Sex
(Warning: If you’re not comfortable with sex talk, you may want to skip ahead to the next section!) As, well… unsexy as wearing socks to bed might seem, it may actually improve your chances of having an orgasm.
According to a 2005 news story, about 80% of the couples who participated in a study in the Netherlands achieved orgasm when wearing socks, compared to only 50% of couples who were not wearing socks. It might be circumstantial evidence at best, but it certainly can’t hurt to give it a try for yourself! ;-)
An Important Note About Sock Choice
Does it matter which socks you wear to sleep? On the whole, not really. You can wear ankle socks, crew socks, or fuzzy chenille socks—it’s up to you! But you definitely want to avoid sleeping in compression socks.
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Compression socks are great for long flights or as part of your workwear, but they’re not meant to be worn to sleep. The compression may hinder your blood flow to your feet when you’re lying down. But feel free to sleep in any non-compression socks you want to! :-)
Hate Sleeping in Socks? Try These Alternatives
Some people just can’t stand wearing socks to bed, and that’s okay! There are plenty of ways to warm your feet up to get the benefits I mentioned above, sans socks. Here are a few alternatives you can try!
- Enjoy a warm foot bath before bedtime
- Wear a warm pair of slippers for an hour or two before bed
- Sleep with a hot water bottle near the foot of your bed
- Sleep with an extra blanket draped over the foot of your bed
- Take a warm bath an hour or two before bed
Are you pro-socks or anti-socks when it comes to sleeping?
I am 65 and I wear socks to bed.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.They keep my feet warm and I fall asleep much faster.
I started to sleep with socks on this year.
They say large truck drivers take away their socks because they make them fall asleep easily. That’s how thay avoid falling asleep while driving and having accidents.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use diabetic socks in bed; they have so much more “give” than traditional socks, so my feet don’t feel constricted when I sleep. I usually must take them off in the middle of the night because my feet get too toasty, but they give me all the benefits of socks without getting too tight.
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