Is it time to strip down and snooze? Actually, yes! There are tons of benefits to sleeping naked that one may never have even thought of. And while it may seem weird or strange at first, the pros of getting into your birthday suit before getting into bed will outweigh your hesitation. So today, we’re going to focus on all the reasons why you should be sleeping naked. From your physical health to your mental health, as well as your intimate and sexual health and wellness, all will be uncovered.

4 Physical Health Benefits of Sleeping Naked

1. Better Quality of Sleep

We base a slew of decisions on the temperature outside. From whether we should enjoy a picnic, to packing socks whilst on vacation. But have you ever considered how the temperature affects your health whilst asleep? Interestingly, when your skin starts to overheat, even just a tad, you’re more inclined to wake up during the night (which we can all certainly agree isn’t fun). Not just that, but when you overheat, you may be getting less of one of the most important phases of sleep; NREM. This stage is crucial as it helps you stay alert during the day and will keep your body sharper to fight off infections. In other words: no fan or air conditioning? Don’t fancy having the window open? Get naked instead! Sleeping naked is one of the easiest ways to stay cool during your shut-eye without having to change the temperature of the room.

2. Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

It may sound extreme, but sleeping naked does have an effect on your weight and the likelihood of getting type 2 diabetes. This is because, when you sleep at a lower temperature, your body will automatically produce more brown fat. Brown fat, also called adipose tissue, is a special kind of body fat that is activated when we’re cold. It helps maintain your body temperature in cold conditions, and contains more mitochondria than white fat. Basically, the mitochondria in brown fat burn calories in order to produce heat and to use body fat as fuel. High levels of brown fat, in that regard, can aid in boosting one’s metabolism by burning blood sugar, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity.

3. Healthier Skin

Looking for that effortless glow? Sleep naked! In a study, it was found that those who get quality sleep actually heal better. This study had three different test groups; one enjoyed adequate sleep, the second did not, and the third was sleep deprived yet received an extra boost of nutrients. Then, they looked at how fast a small wound on the skin took to heal. It was, in fact, the first test group that recovered the soonest, leading us to believe that getting decent sleep is perhaps even more important than imbibing extra nutrients. What does this have to do with sleeping naked? Well, we’ve already discovered that sleeping naked has a positive influence on the amount of sleep we get. In short: sleep naked, get better sleep, benefit from healthier skin. Voila!

4. Better Immune System Functioning

According to immunologist Heather Moday, M.D., sleep is absolutely essential for immune functioning. “While our body is resting, the immune system cells can also focus all efforts and energy on a strong attack against viruses and bacteria. Also, sleep enhances a formation of memory antibodies to bacteria and viruses, to help build a stronger immune system for the future,” says Moday. In fact, a 2010 study showed that a lack of sleep was associated with susceptibility to the common cold. In it, 153 participants were all exposed to a rhinovirus while only some of them were offered quality and longer duration sleep. With that, those who had shorter sleep durations were less likely to be resistant to the illness. So, for the sake of your immune system, perhaps it’s best to drop trou and get decent sleep.

4 Mental Health Benefits of Sleeping Naked

1. You May Fall Asleep Faster

Sleeping naked may help you fall asleep faster! And even though this indeed has many physical benefits, it too has a slew of benefits when it comes to your mental health. When you get in the sheets naked and you’re cooler rather than warmer, this level of coolness tells your body that it’s time to sleep. And in doing so, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of a good night’s rest. You see, when you get enough sleep, especially REM sleep, the brain has time to process emotional information. It is during this time of physical rest that the brain gets to work, evaluating and remembering thoughts and memories. It’s also been said that a lack of sleep influences the consolidation of positive emotional content. Not just that, but surely everyone can relate to feeling crabby or even moody on days where sleep was minimal the night before, impacting our daily lives, work, and mental functioning in general.

2. Reduced Stress and Anxiety

There are several studies that show a strong link between sleep and depression. In one particular study, 90 percent of patients living with depression complained about poor quality of sleep. The catch 22 however is that depression often leads to a lack of sleep and a lack of sleep has a strong capacity for one to feel depressed. Research conducted over a 10-year period even showed that a poor quality of sleep is associated with an elevated risk of suicide. How does this all tie in with sleeping naked? Well, we’ve established that sleeping naked not only helps you fall asleep faster but it also allows you to have a better quality sleep, which is obviously crucial for better overall mental health.

3. A Boost in Self Confidence

Allowing yourself to feel confident and comfortable in your own skin is one of the biggest forms of self-care. And sleeping naked is a great opportunity to get in touch with your body and to boost your overall level of self-love. Additionally, if you’re in a relationship where you’re sleeping in the same bed as your partner, sleeping naked together can increase feelings of fulfilment and bring about a stronger connection. This is because skin-to-skin contact has been shown to increase the release of the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin. Now some of the many wonderful things that oxytocin does is increase levels of social interaction and well-being, and it has anti-stress effects. A study showed that, even with low intensity stimulation of the skin such as touching or stroking, this love hormone is released. Indeed, oxytocin is powerful.

4. Reduced Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease

Is there a link between a lack of sleep and Alzheimer’s disease? Unfortunately, yes. As we mentioned, your brain does its best work when you’re asleep. This includes clearing itself of toxic proteins (including proteins that can increase your risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia). In fact, a 2021 study showed that people in their 50’s and 60’s who slept six hours or less were more likely to develop dementia later in life. Also, compared to those who enjoyed “normal” sleep (categorised as seven hours), those who didn’t get decent shut eye were 30 percent more likely to be diagnosed with dementia. What’s even worse is that interrupted sleep continues to follow those who have one of these kinds of diseases. Oftentimes, those with Alzheimer’s disease wake up often during the night and find it difficult to fall back asleep.The bottom line? Decent sleep can help prevent contracting one of these devastating diseases, and sleeping naked allows you to get some decent sleep.

2 Intimate & Sexual Health Benefits of Sleeping Naked

1. Better Vaginal Health

Vulva owners who’ve had the unfortunate experience of getting a yeast infection will rejoice at the fact that sleeping naked reduces your chances of getting vaginal candidiasis (aka a yeast infection or ‘thrush’). You see, when vulva owners go to bed wearing tight-fitted underwear and/or pyjamas, they’re creating perfect conditions for an overgrowth of vaginal candida. This is because yeast tends to thrive in warm, moist places. In other words: sleeping naked, or in loose-fitted pyjamas without underwear, is a great way to avoid yeast infections.

2. Increased Fertility in Testicle Owners

Looking to become a parent? It’s been shown that testicle owners who wear loose-fitting boxers have a higher sperm count and lower FSH levels (a hormone that plays a role in sexual development and functioning) compared to those who wear tight-fitted underwear. This could be because loose-fitting briefs help keep the testicles cooler. You see, when the temperature is higher in the scrotum, it can negatively affect the functioning of the testicles. Having said that, sleeping nude aids in a lower body temperature, which could result in better sperm health and motility.

And so, besides the fact that sleeping naked means doing way less laundry, it’s quite evident that there are a handful of benefits attached to snoozing in the buff. Are you ready to disrobe to enjoy all the perks?