Some people consider the idea of sleeping without protective clothing bizarre, while others consider the prospect of not wearing cotton or satin equally baffling.
Sleeping naked can enhance our physical and mental health. Stripping down before getting into bed regulates your body temperature, meaning that you sleep longer and deeper, so you’ll feel refreshed in the morning. Also, you can increase your intimacy with a partner and feel more confident.
Nobody can tell you what you should or shouldn’t wear at bedtime as it’s a matter of personal preference, but it never hurts to have all the facts. Let’s explore the pros and cons of sleeping naked.
Is Sleeping Without Pajamas Good or Bad?
When choosing if you should wear pajamas to bed or sleep naked, there’s no good or bad choice and no right or wrong answer. It depends on your personal preference and what makes you feel more comfortable. Sometimes sleeping in pajamas is the most sensible option.
Consider keeping clothing on at night if the following applies to you:
- You share a home with non-intimate housemates and may need to leave your room at night
- The sheets on your bed are of low quality and likely to irritate the skin
- You are prone to sleepwalking (somnambulism)
- You like to leave windows open and lights on
If these restrictions do not apply, give serious consideration to sleeping naked. There are undeniable advantages to allowing yourself the freedom of doing so.
Is it Healthy to Sleep Naked?
You may be keen to know more about the perks of sleeping without pajamas before deciding if this is for you, including those related to personal health.
With this in mind, what are the benefits of sleeping naked? Let’s review the most common perks of stripping down before bed. Based on this information, you can decide if it’ll suit you.
1/ Temperature Regulation
The most significant advantage to sleeping without clothes is what deters many people.
By ditching pajamas, your body temperature will start lower as you get into bed. The longer you sleep, the more your temperature drops. Some people wear pajamas for their coziness.
Dropping body temperature may not sound like a great idea, but it works in your favor. According to the Journal of Physiological Anthropology, clothing can disturb sleep. Get too warm, and you’ll be involuntarily woken up and may struggle to doze off again.
If you’re a little chilly when you climb into bed, you’re also likelier to fall asleep faster. Low temperatures act as a cue to the human body to sleep to avoid discomfort. Take off your clothes for a restful sleep.
Of course, superior sleep brings advantages too. You’ll wake up feeling refreshed; by extension, you should enjoy sharper mental focus and clarity. Many people also report fewer aches and pains after high-quality sleep.
2/ Reducing Stress
The less you sleep, the more cortisol – the stress hormone – will be produced by your body. As discussed, sleeping naked will enhance your chances of a good night’s sleep.
The consequences of this are simple enough. The more cortisol in your body, the less you’ll sleep. The less cortisol floods your brain, the happier and more relaxed you’ll feel. In the latter instance, you’re likelier to sleep well.
Of course, this circle is much likelier to complete if you sleep naked. By stripping off, you’ll bolster your chances of a whole and high-quality night of slumber, which enhances your chances of feeling great the next day and doing so all over again.
3/ Improved Skin
Everybody needs to take care of their skin, especially as we age.
It can be particularly important during the nighttime hours. Wrapping skin in thick pajamas can entrap sweat within the fabric and block air circulating throughout the body.
If you’re sleeping naked, you’ll enjoy healthier skin. This is because collagen production speeds up while we sleep and feel relaxed. Get to bed early and unclothed, and you’ll wake up glowing.
If you have a skin complaint, including cuts, naked sleeping will also aid healing. The FASEB Journal explains that deep sleep and exposed flesh enhance the rate of skin barrier restoration.
4/ Enhanced Confidence and Self-Esteem
Not everybody is comfortable with the concept of sleeping naked. Perhaps it’s media presentation, in which all movie stars emerge from bed without a hair out of place, full make-up, and perfect skin. Maybe it’s a matter of vulnerability.
Consider the state of mind of naturists. If you’ve seen such a group, you’ll know that they rarely resemble Dwayne Johnson or Scarlett Johansson. However, the absence of an idealized body image does not impact their confidence.
While many of us struggle with personal aesthetics and sense of self, the Journal of Happiness Studies explains that nudists have no such concerns. Spending prolonged periods without clothing seems to boost self-esteem and satisfaction.
5/ Saving Money
It’s undeniable that sleeping naked will save you money. After all, high-quality pajamas don’t come cheap, and the cost could quickly run into three figures if you’re looking for premium material.
Sleeping naked removes the need for pajama shopping, which can shave a little off your clothing budget. You’ll also need to do less laundry, which has a knock-on economic effect. You’ll purchase less detergent and fabric softener and reduce your utility bills.
The money-saving opportunities provided by sleeping without clothes are not substantial enough to recommend the action alone. Matched with the other advantages of naked sleeping, they merit consideration.
6/ Early Starts in the Morning
Sleeping naked forces us to get and start our days early. Waking in pajamas can be dangerous as it’ll be tempting to sit around in such clothes during morning routines, including coffee and contemplation.
Few people feel comfortable sitting around the house without clothing once the sun has risen. Such individuals have no choice but to get showered and dressed as soon as they wake up, inspiring a positive start to the day.
Many of us struggle with mornings, especially in the winter. When it’s dark outside, it hardly feels appealing to think about any duties. By sleeping naked, you’ll have no choice but to start a day the right way.
7/ Improved Immune Response
It’s hardly a secret that insomnia and broken sleep can leave us feeling pretty wretched in the morning. This is due to the impact of sleep on the immune system, and the European Journal of Physiology links sleep to natural immunity.
If we don’t get enough sleep, the body cannot recover and bolster the immune system. So, we’ll be at increased risk of common colds and viral infections, such as flu, and it’ll take longer to recover from everyday ailments.
8/ Enhanced Reproductive Health
Men and women alike will experience reproductive benefits from sleeping naked. In addition to a greater opportunity to conceive children naturally, you’ll enjoy superior health.
In the case of males, fertility is likely to be enhanced. As per Human Reproduction, the looser fit of male underwear, the higher the sperm count. It stands to reason that no underwear at all will assist further.
Women will appreciate the freedom afforded by sleeping naked. With no barrier, especially one constructed from cotton, vaginal health is boosted. This greater ability to breathe leaves you less likely to experience yeast infections.
9/ Greater Intimacy with a Partner
There is no denying that sleeping skin-to-skin with a partner bolsters intimacy and bond.
Frontiers in Psychology explains how sharing space with your partner without clothing getting in the way bolsters oxytocin release. This creates feelings of comfort, bliss, and arousal.
Try sleeping naked if you feel stuck in a rut with your partner. This doesn’t need to be part of a seduction game, as the physical contact between you will be enough to enhance any bond and feelings of unity.
10/ Weight Loss
Aiding a weight loss diet is a good reason for anybody to consider ditching pajamas and sleeping naked.
Stripping off and taking a nap isn’t a miracle diet and won’t burn any body fat. However, sleeping naked means a cooler temperature, resulting in a more restful night’s sleep and a healthier metabolism.
When exposed to a cooler temperature, the body burns fat cells as a survival mechanism. The first cells to go will be white fat, which is associated with Type 2 Diabetes. By sleeping naked, you’ll be cool but not uncomfortable.
Choosing what to wear will always be a matter of personal choice, but give the idea of sleeping naked a chance. You may be surprised at just how much it enhances your sense of well-being.