Getting a good night’s sleep requires more than just scheduling a consistent bedtime and creating the right sleep environment – another important element is what you wear to bed.
A recent study, commissioned and funded by the wool industry, has found that wool is the best material to sleep in – not a surprising find, perhaps. The study, by the University of Sydney, has found that wearing wool pajamas over cotton can result in up to 15 minutes extra sleep. Wool, apparently, regulates body temperature better and keeps our bodies in the “thermal comfort zone” conducive to better-quality sleep.
However, according to a 2017 survey, 40% of adults in the UK wear pyjamas in bed, 20% wear underwear and a third wear nothing. So what then to wear?
Picking pyjamas to help support a good night’s sleep is surprisingly simple.
First and foremost, focus on the fabric (or lack there of) – choose sleepwear that feels good when you put it on.
Being strategic about what your sleep attire is made of can also help regulate your body temperature during the night, which, in turn, can promote better slumber.
Consider the following fabrics:
Cotton: This all-natural fabric is lightweight and soft to the touch; it’s also breathable, allowing for air circulation, and doesn’t tend to irritate the skin.
Silk: This fabric is a magical thermoregulator – it can keep you warm when you’re cold and cool when you’re hot.
Flannel:For colder months, a pair of pajamas made from this soft fabric may be just what you need.
Wool and fleece: While these fabrics will keep you warm, they may actually promote overheating.
At the end of the day – before you hop into bed – ultimately it comes down to personal preference, and what makes you feel most-comfortable while sleeping.
