Find yourself tossing and turning at night? Wake up feeling exhausted? Can’t seem to get through the day without dozing off? These are all signs you’re not getting a restful night’s sleep and it might have something to do with the temperature inside your house. The key to getting a good night’s sleep might be as simple as adjusting your thermostat. See below to find out how you should be setting your thermostat so you can wake up feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day.

Unfortunately there’s no “magic number.”

First off, due to differing resting metabolic rates, women and men tend to have conflicting temperature preferences. That is, women don’t usually produce as much body heat as men do. With that said, there’s not one magic number that everyone should set their thermostat to in order to wake up feeling refreshed and full of energy every single day of the week. A little bit of science mixed with personal preference can help you determine the right temperature.

Here’s the deal…

Too Hot

If you typically set your thermostat higher than 67°F overnight, chances are, you’ve tossed and turned because you were too warm. You might even find yourself waking up in sweat and this time, it’s not because of that bad dream you had. Try lowering it a few degrees to see if it helps you sleep longer and more comfortably.

Too Cold

On the other hand, if your bedroom is uncomfortably cold, it can lead to an unwelcome wake-up call. If you set the thermostat lower than 60°F, it could also be affecting how you sleep. While most doctors do recommend cooler air for a better sleeping environment, they draw the line at 60°. If you find yourself freezing during the night and your down comforter and flannel blankets aren’t doing the trick, raise the temperature a few degrees.

Just Right

Most sleep professionals suggest the ideal temperature for sleeping is somewhere between 60° and 67°F, depending on personal preference. And yes, it does make a difference especially when it comes to REM sleep. Think of your bedroom as a cave – it should be quiet, cool and dark, but don’t forget going too cool can also have negative effects.

Still not getting a good night’s sleep?

Dr. Christopher Winter told the Huffington Post that there are also products that can help:

  • Performance bedding, which is designed to wick away moisture and heat to make you feel cooler
  • Gel mats, which lie over your mattress to keep you cool
  • ChiliPad, which uses temperature-controlled water to keep your bed at a comfortable temperature

Having trouble getting your heating system to keep a constant temperature throughout the night? Don’t go another night without getting the sleep you need to function properly. Call on the heating experts at Rusk Heating & Cooling today and we’ll get things back up and running right away.