We all have our specific bedtime rituals to ensure a sound good night sleep. Some take a bath before going to bed, others sleep in a specific position. But there is one thing that you will find common in most people -they always need a blanket at night.
Regardless of the weather, the room temperature, most people prefer to use a blanket for good sleep. Have you ever wondered why?
We found out why we use our blankets and now we are sharing this with all of you.
It regulates the temperature of our body.
Our body’s core temperature drops as we fall asleep and it continues to dip throughout the night before reaching its lowest point at around 4 a.m. The process starts an hour before we hit the bed and our body loses the ability to regulate its temperature once we reach the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep cycle. The blanket helps us stay warm all night and prevents us from shivering.
Secondly, covering yourself with a blanket while going to bed is a key part of the circadian rhythm. It helps us determines when our body is ready to fall asleep and when it’s ready to wake up. We have developed this habit since our birth and it remains the same even when we grow up.
Blanket and insomnia
A study published in the Journal of Sleep Medicine & Disorders in 2015 revealed that sleeping under a weighted blanket helps to get quality good night’s sleep. Another study published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy in 2020 revealed that weighted blanket can also help people suffering from anxiety and insomnia.
Serotonin is one of the “feel-good” chemicals that plays an important role in keeping us happy and calm. When we are stressed and anxious, it is hard to fall asleep. However, once we cover ourselves, the amount of this chemical increases and those feelings start to go away.
The blanket makes us feel protected
Most importantly, the warmth and comfort of the blanket make us feel safe at night. The fear of darkness is a common fear and they used blankets to shiled themselves from the fear. It remains the same when we grow up. We feel protected under the blanket.
Blankets are an essential part of our bedtime routine.
We are also “creatures of habit” and this has a huge impact on why we need our blankets. Even if it is not about feeling safe, we have been using blankets our whole life and it has been engraved in our routine since then. So, when we go to bed and cover ourselves with a blanket, our body receives a signal that it is time to sleep.
Things to keep in mind while buying a blanket
Make sure the blanket you buy is made of breathable material and do not accumulate moisture and sweat. It should be soft enough to make you feel comfortable and cosy at night.
Source: brightside.me; timesofindia